Solid-State Imaging Pixel Array with Shared Signal Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of pixels in solid-state imaging elements is hindered by the increase in the number of wiring lines, which leads to signal transmission issues and reduced design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state imaging element with a pixel array unit connected via a common signal line to a photon number detection unit, which reduces the number of wiring lines and facilitates miniaturization by detecting photon incidence based on analog signals transmitted through the signal line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each pixel is connected to the adder via a dedicated signal line, then the S/N ratio is improved through histogram synthesis, but the number of wiring lines increases making miniaturization difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pixels share a common signal line to transmit their signals to a single adder circuit. This merging approach reduces the total number of wiring lines from N (for N pixels) to a manageable number of shared lines, directly addressing the wiring complexity issue while preserving the ability to synthesize histograms for distance measurement
2Quantity of substance
If the number of wiring lines increases, then more pixels can be connected, but the signal line needs to be thinned making it difficult to ensure transmission band
Solution Approach 1:
By having multiple pixels share common signal lines rather than each pixel having a dedicated line, the signal line thickness can be maintained at adequate levels for signal transmission while still supporting a large number of pixels. The shared architecture reduces the total wire count without requiring individual lines to be scaled down
3Quantity of substance
If the number of wiring lines increases, then more pixels can be connected, but the degree of freedom in designing wiring decreases and skew increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared signal line architecture reduces the total number of wiring routes that need to be designed and managed. With fewer lines to route, the wiring design maintains greater flexibility and reduces signal skew issues that would arise from managing numerous individual pixel-to-adder connections
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution reduces the number of wiring lines, thereby improving signal transmission and enabling the miniaturization of pixels while maintaining effective distance measurement capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a pixel array unit provided with a plurality of pixels that generates a predetermined analog signal depending on incidence of a photon
Data Source
AI summary
In a solid-state imaging element that measures a distance, miniaturization of pixels is facilitated. The solid-state imaging element includes a pixel array unit and a photon number detection unit. In the solid-state imaging element including the pixel array unit and the photon number detection unit, the pixel array unit is provided with a plurality of pixels that generates a predetermined analog signal depending on incidence of a photon and a signal line to which the plurality of pixels is connected in common. Furthermore, in the solid-state imaging element, the photon number detection unit detects the number of photons incident, on the basis of the analog signal transmitted via the signal line.