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US-20260129309-A1 - IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGING DEVICE

US20260129309A1US 20260129309 A1US20260129309 A1US 20260129309A1US-20260129309-A1

Abstract

An image sensor includes: a first and a second pixel, each of which includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a first charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through the micro lens and generates a second charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates at least one of the first charge and the second charge, a first transfer unit that transfers the first charge to the accumulation unit, and a second transfer unit that transfers the second charge to the accumulation unit; and a control unit that outputs, to the first transfer unit of the first pixel and to the second transfer unit of the second pixel, a signal that causes the first charge of the first pixel and the second charge of the second pixel to be transferred to their accumulation units.

Inventors

  • Takashi SEO

Assignees

  • NIKON CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251230
Priority Date
20170405

Claims (10)

  1. 1 . An imaging device, comprising: a first pixel including: a first microlens onto which light from an optical system is incident; a first photoelectric converter that converts light from the first microlens into a charge; a second photoelectric converter that converts light from the first microlens into a charge, the second photoelectric converter being arranged adjacent to the first photoelectric converter in a first direction; a first transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the first photoelectric converter; and a second transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the second photoelectric converter; a second pixel including: a second microlens onto which light from the optical system is incident, the second microlens being arranged in line with the first microlens in the first direction; a third photoelectric converter that converts light from the second microlens into a charge; a fourth photoelectric converter that converts light from the second microlens into a charge, the fourth photoelectric converter being arranged adjacent to the third photoelectric converter in the first direction; a third transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the third photoelectric converter; and a fourth transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the fourth photoelectric converter; a third pixel including: a third microlens onto which light from the optical system is incident, the third microlens being arranged in line with the first microlens in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a fifth photoelectric converter that converts light from the third microlens into a charge; a sixth photoelectric converter that converts light from the third microlens into a charge, the sixth photoelectric converter being arranged adjacent to the fifth photoelectric converter in the first direction; a fifth transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the fifth photoelectric converter; and a sixth transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the sixth photoelectric converter; a fourth pixel including: a fourth microlens onto which light from the optical system is incident, the fourth microlens being arranged in line with the third microlens in the first direction and being arranged in line with the second microlens in the second direction; a seventh photoelectric converter that converts light from the fourth microlens into a charge; an eighth photoelectric converter that converts light from the fourth microlens into a charge, the eighth photoelectric converter being arranged adjacent to the seventh photoelectric converter in the first direction; a seventh transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the seventh photoelectric converter; and an eighth transfer unit that transfers the charge converted by the eighth photoelectric converter; a first control line electrically connected to the first transfer unit and the fourth transfer unit and through which a first control signal for controlling the first transfer unit and the fourth transfer unit is output; a second control line electrically connected to the second transfer unit and the third transfer unit and through which a second control signal for controlling the second transfer unit and the third transfer unit is output; a third control line electrically connected to the fifth transfer unit and the eighth transfer unit and through which a third control signal for controlling the fifth transfer unit and the eighth transfer unit is output; a fourth control line electrically connected to the sixth transfer unit and the seventh transfer unit and through which a fourth control signal for controlling the sixth transfer unit and the seventh transfer unit is output; and a control unit that performs focus adjustment of the optical system using (i) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the first photoelectric converter in response to the first control signal output to the first control line, (ii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the fourth photoelectric converter in response to the first control signal output to the first control line, (iii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the sixth photoelectric converter in response to the fourth control signal output to the fourth control line, and (iv) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the seventh photoelectric converter in response to the fourth control signal output to the fourth control line.
  2. 2 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein: the control unit performs focus adjustment of the optical system using (v) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the second photoelectric converter in response to the second control signal output to the second control line, (vi) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the third photoelectric converter in response to the second control signal output to the second control line, (vii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the fifth photoelectric converter in response to the third control signal output to the third control line, and (viii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the eighth photoelectric converter in response to the third control signal output to the third control line.
  3. 3 . The imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein: the control unit generates image data using (i) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the first photoelectric converter in response to the first control signal output to the first control line and the charge transferred from the second photoelectric converter in response to the second control signal output to the second control line; (ii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the third photoelectric converter in response to the second control signal output to the second control line and the charge transferred from the fourth photoelectric converter in response to the first control signal output to the first control line; (iii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the fifth photoelectric converter in response to the third control signal output to the third control line and the charge transferred from the sixth photoelectric converter in response to the fourth control signal output to the fourth control line; and (iv) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the seventh photoelectric converter in response to the fourth control signal output to the fourth control line and the charge transferred from the eighth photoelectric converter in response to the third control signal output to the third control line.
  4. 4 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein: the control unit generates image data using (i) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the first photoelectric converter in response to the first control signal output to the first control line and the charge transferred from the second photoelectric converter in response to the second control signal output to the second control line; (ii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the third photoelectric converter in response to the second control signal output to the second control line and the charge transferred from the fourth photoelectric converter in response to the first control signal output to the first control line; (iii) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the fifth photoelectric converter in response to the third control signal output to the third control line and the charge transferred from the sixth photoelectric converter in response to the fourth control signal output to the fourth control line; and (iv) a signal that is based on the charge transferred from the seventh photoelectric converter in response to the fourth control signal output to the fourth control line and the charge transferred from the eighth photoelectric converter in response to the third control signal output to the third control line.
  5. 5 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein: the first pixel includes a first accumulation unit to which the charge converted by the first photoelectric converter and the charge converted by the second photoelectric converter are transferred; the second pixel includes a second accumulation unit to which the charge converted by the third photoelectric converter and the charge converted by the fourth photoelectric converter are transferred; the third pixel includes a third accumulation unit to which the charge converted by the fifth photoelectric converter and the charge converted by the sixth photoelectric converter are transferred; and the fourth pixel includes a fourth accumulation unit to which the charge converted by the seventh photoelectric converter and the charge converted by the eighth photoelectric converter are transferred.
  6. 6 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first signal line electrically connected to the first pixel and the third pixel; and a second signal line electrically connected to the second pixel and the fourth pixel.
  7. 7 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a scan circuit that outputs the first control signal, the second control signal, the third control signal, and the fourth control signal.
  8. 8 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein: the first photoelectric converter, the second photoelectric converter, the third photoelectric converter, the fourth photoelectric converter, the fifth photoelectric converter, the sixth photoelectric converter, the seventh photoelectric converter, and the eighth photoelectric converter are disposed on a first semiconductor substrate; and the scan circuit is disposed on a second semiconductor substrate stacked together with the first semiconductor substrate.
  9. 9 . The imaging device according to claim 8 , further comprising: a first signal line electrically connected to the first pixel and the third pixel; and a second signal line electrically connected to the second pixel and the fourth pixel.
  10. 10 . The imaging device according to claim 9 , wherein: the first signal line and the second signal line are disposed between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate in a stacking direction in which the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate are stacked.

Description

This is a Continuation of Application No. 18/773,794 filed July 16, 2024, which is a Continuation of Application No. 18/370,950 filed September 21, 2023, which is a Continuation of Application No. 17/584,491 filed January 26, 2022, which is a Continuation of Application No. 16/500,927 filed October 4, 2019, which is a National Stage Application of PCT/JP2018/013712 filed March 30, 2018, which in turn claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2017-075177 filed April 5, 2017. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image sensor and to an imaging device. BACKGROUND ART An image sensor is per se known that reads out signals produced by a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, from pixels that incorporate that plurality of photoelectric conversion units and a plurality of floating diffusion units (refer to PTL1). In the prior art, each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of floating diffusion units. CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURE PTL1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-127454. SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the 1st aspect of the present invention, an image sensor comprises: a first pixel and a second pixel, each of which comprises a first photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a first charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through the micro lens and generates a second charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates at least one of the first charge and the second charge, a first transfer unit that transfers the first charge to the accumulation unit, and a second transfer unit that transfers the second charge to the accumulation unit; and a control unit that outputs, to the first transfer unit of the first pixel and to the second transfer unit of the second pixel, a signal that causes the first charge of the first pixel and the second charge of the second pixel to be transferred to their accumulation units. According to the 2nd aspect of the present invention, an imaging device comprises: an image sensor according to the 1st aspect that captures an image formed by an optical system comprising a focus adjustment optical system; and a position control unit that controls a position of the focus adjustment optical system based upon a signal based upon a first charge and a signal based upon a second charge outputted respectively from the first pixel and from the second pixel of the image sensor, so that an image formed by the optical system is focused upon the image sensor. According to the 3rd aspect of the present invention, an imaging device comprises: an image sensor according to the 1st aspect that captures an image formed by an optical system comprising a focus adjustment optical system; and a position control unit that controls a position of the focus adjustment optical system based upon at least one set of a signal based upon the first charge of the first pixel and a signal based upon the second charge of the second pixel, and a signal based upon the second charge of the first pixel and a signal based upon the first charge of the second pixel, outputted from the image sensor, so that an image formed by the optical system is focused upon the image sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a camera according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a figure showing an example of the general structure of an image sensor; FIG. 3 is a figure showing an example of arrangement of pixels upon the image sensor; FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for explanation of pixels arranged in a column M of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram for explanation of pixels arranged in a column M+1 of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a figure showing an example of group "a" signals and an example of group "b" signals; FIG. 7 is a figure showing an example of a pixel arrangement in a second embodiment; FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for explanation of pixels arranged in a column M of FIG. 7; FIGS. 9A through 9D are figures each showing an example of group "a" signals and group "b" signals, in this second embodiment; FIG. 10 is a figure showing an example of a pixel arrangement in a third embodiment; FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram for explanation of pixels arranged in a column M of FIG. 10; FIGS. 12A and 12B are figures each showing an example of group "a" signals and group "b" signals, in this third embodiment; FIG. 13 is a figure showing an example of a pixel arrangement in a first variant of the third embodiment; FIGS. 14A through 14C are figures each showing an example of group "a" signals and group "b" signals, in a fourth embodiment; FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explanation of a flow of processing executed by a microprocessor; FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explanation of a f