JP2003140031A - Solid-state imaging apparatus for photometric ranging and method of driving the same and imaging apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a lens shutter compact camera which enables a user to obtain a comfortable feel of operation by shortening a series of processing time required for photometry and ranging to make the time for a shutter release shorter. SOLUTION: The power source of a photometric circuit 213 is performed before the end of the ranging operation of a ranging circuit 212. The device is driven in order of the turning on of the power source of the photometric circuit 213, the turning on of the power source of the ranging circuit 212, the ranging operation, shutdown of the power source of the ranging circuit 212, the photometric operation and the shutdown of the power source of the photometric circuit 213.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device for autofocus having a photometric function, and more particularly to a solid-state image pickup device for photometric distance measurement used in a lens shutter compact camera or the like, a driving method thereof, and an image pickup device using the same. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an autofocus (A) equipped with a photometric (AE) function for a lens shutter compact camera has been used.
F) As a sensor, for example, US Pat.
97, there is a solid-state imaging device. FIG. 10 shows a schematic plan layout view of this solid-state imaging device. In the figure, 30 is a photometric sensor array, 32 is a photometric center segment, 34A to 34D are photometric inner segments, and 36A to 36D are photometric outer segments.
40 and 42 are sensor arrays for distance measurement, 44l-n and 46l
-N is a pixel, 50 is a Si semiconductor substrate, H and W are the size of the photometric region, and D is the baseline length.

Since this sensor measures the distance by detecting the phase difference, two linear sensors 40 and 42 are required. When the pixel pitch is P and the focal length of the focusing lens for distance measurement is f, the AF sensitivity indicating the distance measurement accuracy can be expressed as AF sensitivity = D × f / P. Currently, this AF sensitivity is 5000
A solid-state image pickup device of a certain degree has been realized. Pixel pitch is 1
When the lens focal length is about 0 μm and the lens focal length is several mm, the base line length D is 5 mm to 8 mm. Therefore, the linear sensor 4
Although there is an invalid area between 0 and the linear sensor 42, the semiconductor substrate can be effectively used by providing 30 AE sensors. Also, AE
By integrating the sensor and AF sensor into a single chip, it contributes to the realization of downsizing and cost reduction of the camera.

By the way, as a method of driving the solid-state image pickup device, for example, there is a method of driving in the order of distance measuring operation and photometric operation. In this operation sequence, the photometry circuit is powered on at the same time as the photometry operation. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a conventional driving method.

When distance measurement and photometry start (step 1
00), the distance measurement operation is performed (step 101), and at the same time, the power of the photometry circuit is turned on (step 102), and the photometry operation is performed (step 103). Next, the distance measurement and photometry level are locked, and the distance measurement and photometry measurement are completed (step 10).
4).

FIG. 12 shows a circuit diagram of a LOG amplifier which is an example of a logarithmic compression circuit used as a part of a photometric circuit. In the figure, 220 is a photodiode, 221
Is a diode, 222 is an operational amplifier, 223 is a power supply voltage input section, 224 is a constant voltage input section, and 225 is an output terminal. When light is incident on the photodiode 220, a photocurrent corresponding to the light is generated and flows into the negative terminal side of the operational amplifier 222.

Here, an operational amplifier 222 having a diode 221 connected between the output terminal 225 and the negative input side of the inverting input terminal, a constant voltage input section 224, and an output terminal 22.
In the so-called LOG amplifier configured by 5, when a photocurrent flows through the diode 221, the light amount / photocurrent has a horizontal axis, and the output potential of the output terminal has a vertical axis, the light amount has a logarithmically compressed output. Become. Since the potential on the minus input side of the inverting input terminal is fixed by the input of photocurrent, it takes a very long time to fix the potential when the power supply voltage is turned on or in the dark.

[0008]

Generally, a photometric circuit uses a circuit for logarithmically compressing the amount of light signal from the photometric sensor in order to secure a wide dynamic range. The start-up time of this logarithmic compression circuit depends on the brightness of the outside light, and the start-up time is longer when the outside light is darker. Therefore, in the driving method of the conventional example shown in FIG. 11, in order to turn on the power supply of the photometry circuit immediately before the photometry operation,
There is a problem in that it takes a very long time to actually shift to the photometry operation, and 50 to 60 ms is spent for a series of operations of distance measurement and photometry.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a solid-state image pickup device for photometry and ranging capable of shortening the time required for the rangefinding operation and the photometry operation, a driving method thereof, and the use thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit for generating distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a light measuring sensor, and an output of the light measuring sensor. In a solid-state imaging device for photometric distance measurement, in which a photometric circuit that generates photometric data based on the same is laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, a driving means for turning on the power of the photometric circuit before the distance measurement operation of the distance measurement circuit is completed. It is achieved by a solid-state imaging device for photometry and distance measurement, which is characterized by being provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit for generating distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and photometric data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In the solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging in which the photometry circuit for generating the light is laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, the photometry circuit is powered on, the ranging circuit is powered on, the ranging operation of the ranging circuit, This is achieved by a solid-state image pickup device for photometric distance measurement, which comprises drive means for driving in the order of power-off of the distance circuit, photometric operation of the photometric circuit, and power-off of the photometric circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit for generating distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and photometric data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. And a driving means for turning on the power of the photometric circuit before the distance measuring operation of the distance measuring circuit is completed.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit for generating distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and photometric data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In the method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging in which the photometry circuit for generating the light is laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, the photometry circuit is powered on before the range-finding operation of the range-finding circuit is completed. This is achieved by the driving method of the solid-state imaging device for photometry and distance measurement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit for generating distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and photometric data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. A method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging in which a photometry circuit for generating a light is laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, wherein the photometry circuit is powered on, the range finding circuit is powered on, and the range finding operation is performed. The method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging is characterized by driving in the order of power-off of the distance measuring circuit, photometric operation of the photometric circuit, and power-off of the photometric circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit for generating distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and photometric data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In the method for driving a solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement, the solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement is characterized in that the power supply of the photometry circuit is turned on before the distance measurement operation of the distance measurement circuit is completed. This is achieved by the driving method of the device.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 210 is a distance measuring sensor for autofocus, and 212 is a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor 210. Reference numeral 211 is a photometric sensor, and 213 is a photometric circuit that calculates accuracy information of the photographing surface based on the output of the photometric sensor 211 and outputs it as photometric data.

The control logic 214 is a microprocessor unit (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer).
The drive control of the distance measuring sensor 210 and the photometric sensor 211 is performed by serial communication from. In addition, the distance measuring circuit 21
The distance measurement data of No. 2 and the photometry data of the photometry circuit 213 are selectively output to the microcomputer by the multiplexer 215. The control logic 214 also controls the distance measurement of the multiplexer 215 and the photometry selection operation.

In FIG. 1, the distance measuring data and the photometric data are selectively output by the multiplexer 215, but as shown in FIG. 2, the distance measuring circuit 212 and the photometric circuit 213 output the distance measuring data and the photometric data separately. It may be in a form.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a plane layout of the solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement shown in FIG. 1 or 2. 216 is S
The i semiconductor substrate has a substantially rectangular shape. A photometric sensor 211 is arranged substantially in the center of the Si semiconductor substrate, and a photometric circuit 213 and an analog circuit 217 are arranged on both sides of the photometric sensor 211. Although omitted in FIG. 1, the analog circuit 217 is, for example, a circuit that generates a reference potential or the like necessary for the distance measuring circuit 212 or the photometric circuit 213, a circuit that amplifies a signal, or the like.

Distance measuring sensors 210 are arranged on the side of the analog circuit 217 and the side of the photometric circuit 213, respectively. The pair of right and left distance measuring sensors measures the distance by detecting the phase difference. A control logic 214 and a distance measuring circuit 212 are provided above and below the left distance measuring sensor 210.
However, the distance measuring circuit 212 is provided below the right distance measuring sensor 210.
Are arranged. As described above, the distance measuring sensor 210, the photometric sensor 211, and the distance measuring circuit 21 are provided on the Si semiconductor substrate 216.
2. A photometric circuit 213, a control logic 214, and an analog circuit 217 are integrated.

FIG. 4 shows a distance measuring circuit 2 including a distance measuring sensor 210.
It is a circuit diagram which shows the specific example of 12. CMOS shown in FIG.
The linear AF sensor was previously disclosed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 200
This is the circuit proposed in No. 0-180706. In the present embodiment, as described above, the distance measuring sensors 210 are arranged as a pair on the left and right, and distance measurement is performed by phase difference detection by the pair of left and right.

Here, 1 is a pn junction photodiode (distance measuring sensor) for photoelectric conversion, 2 is a reset MOS transistor for resetting the potential of the photodiode to VRES, and 3 is a differential amplifier. One photoelectric conversion pixel 21 is configured. Reference numeral 4 is a clamp capacitor, 5 is a MOS switch for inputting a clamp potential, and 4 and 5 form a clamp circuit. 6 ~
9 is a switching MOS transistor, 10 is a maximum value detecting differential amplifier, and 11 is a minimum value detecting differential amplifier.
Each differential amplifier constitutes a voltage follower circuit. Reference numeral 12 is a maximum value output MOS switch, 13 is a minimum value output MOS switch, 14 is an OR circuit, 15 is a scanning circuit, and 16 and 17 are constant current MOS transistors.
For the maximum value detection circuit, the final stage is an nMOS source follower circuit, and for the minimum value detection circuit, the final stage is a pMOS source follower circuit. A common output line 20 outputs a signal from the pixel.

In this circuit configuration, by providing a feedback type noise clamp circuit in front of the maximum value detection circuit and the minimum value detection circuit, the reset noise generated in the photodiode, the sensor amplifier, the maximum value detection circuit,
The FPN generated in the minimum value detection circuit can be removed. In addition, a voltage follower circuit of the source follower type is provided for each pixel in the final output stage, and when the minimum value is output, the constant current source of the output stage of each voltage follower is turned off and the output line connected to the constant current source is connected. By making a common connection, the minimum value of the video signal can be obtained. Further, at the time of outputting the video signal, the constant current source in the output stage of each voltage follower is turned on, and each voltage follower circuit is sequentially connected to the output line, whereby a serial video signal can be obtained. By this operation, the minimum value detection circuit and the signal output circuit are shared, so that the chip can be downsized.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of the photometric circuit 213 including a photometric sensor. A plurality of photometric sensors are arranged, and the circuit of FIG. 5 is a photometric circuit including the one photometric sensor. In the figure, 222 is a CMOS operational amplifier, 220 is a pn junction photodiode (photometric sensor), and 221 is a pn junction diode. Since the potential at both ends of the pn junction photodiode 220 becomes the reference potential V _c , the potential between both ends is in a zero bias state. Therefore, since the expansion of the depletion layer is suppressed, the generation of dark current from the depletion layer is suppressed. The photocurrent generated in the photodiode 220 flows through the diode 221 and is converted into current-voltage. At this time, logarithmic conversion output according to the following equation is performed due to the current-voltage characteristics of the diode.

[0025]

[Equation 1] Where k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the absolute temperature, and q is the elementary charge.
Quantity, I_P Is the photocurrent, I _S Is the reverse saturation current of the diode
Is. In fact, I_S Suppresses characteristic fluctuations due to variations
I for_S A correction circuit is required.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a driving method of the solid-state image pickup device for photometric distance measurement. First, when the distance measurement / photometry operation is started in response to communication from the microcomputer (step 100), the control logic 214 first turns on the power source of the photometry circuit 213 (step 10).
1). As a result, the photometric circuit 213 starts up.

Next, the distance measuring operation is performed, and the distance measuring circuit 21
Since the start-up time of 2 is very short, the distance measuring circuit 21
The distance-measuring operation can be performed almost at the same time when the power of 2 is turned on. Therefore, in the flow chart of FIG. 6, the power-on of the distance measuring circuit 212 is not described, and the drawing is simplified.
Here, although a specific example of the distance measuring circuit 212 is shown in FIG. 6, in the distance measuring operation, the defocus amount at the distance measuring point is measured based on the output of the distance measuring sensor 210 to obtain information for driving the lens. (Step 102). The present embodiment is characterized in that the photometry circuit 213 is turned on before starting the distance measurement operation.

When the photometry circuit 213 finishes the startup, it notifies the microcomputer of the completion of the startup of the photometry circuit 213 by serial communication through the control logic 214. The photometric circuit 213 is in a standby state until the start-up ends (step 103). Upon receiving the completion of start-up, the microcomputer transmits an enable signal for photometry operation to the control logic 214,
Shift to metering operation. Although a specific circuit diagram of the photometric circuit 213 including a photodiode is shown in FIG. 5, in the photometric operation, the luminance information of the subject is obtained based on the output of the photometric sensor 211 (step 104). After the photometry operation is completed, the distance measurement / photometry level is locked, and the distance measurement / photometry operation is completed (step 105).

Further, in the distance measuring operation (step 102) and the photometric operation (step 104), the power consumption of each drive circuit is cut off after the completion of each drive operation to reduce the power consumption. In this embodiment, the photometric circuit 2
Although it has 13 start-up end determining means, the effect of the present invention does not change even if it does not have this and automatically shifts to the photometric operation after a certain waiting time. Here, in the present embodiment, since each AE sensor (photometric circuit including the photometric sensor) and AF sensor (distance measuring circuit including the distance measuring sensor) have only the CMOS circuit, they can be manufactured only by the CMOS process. There is also a feature.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another driving method of the solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement. First, when the distance measurement / photometry operation is started by receiving communication from the microcomputer (step 100), the distance measurement operation is performed. However, as described above, the start-up time of the distance measurement circuit 212 is very short, so the distance measurement circuit 212 The distance measurement operation can be performed almost at the same time as the power-on of the. Therefore, like the case of FIG. 6, the flow chart of FIG. 7 does not describe power-on of the distance measuring circuit 212, and the drawing is simplified. In the distance measuring operation, the defocus amount at the distance measuring point is measured based on the output of the distance measuring sensor 210, and information for driving the lens is obtained (step 101).

On the other hand, the control logic 214 controls the photometry circuit 21 at the same time as the start of the distance measuring operation or before the end of the distance measuring operation.
3 is turned on (step 102). As a result, the photometric circuit 213 starts up. The present embodiment is characterized in that the photometry circuit 213 is turned on at the same time as the start of the photometry operation or before the end of the photometry operation. When the startup of the photometric circuit 213 is completed, the photometric circuit 213 notifies the microcomputer of the completion of the startup of the photometric circuit 213 by serial communication through the control logic 214. The photometric circuit 213 is in a standby state until the start-up ends (step 103).
Upon receiving the completion of start-up, the microcomputer detects the photometric circuit 2
The microcomputer photometry operation enable signal from 13 is communicated to the control logic 214 to shift to the photometry operation.

In the photometric operation, the brightness information of the subject is obtained based on the output of the photometric sensor (step 104). After the distance measuring operation and the light measuring operation are completed, the distance measuring / light measuring level is locked, and the distance measuring / light measuring operation is ended (step 105). Further, in the distance measuring operation (step 101) and the photometric operation (step 104), the power consumption of each drive circuit is cut off after the completion of each drive operation to reduce power consumption.

In the present embodiment, the start-up termination determining means of the photometric circuit is provided, but the effect of the present invention does not change even if the photometric operation is automatically shifted after a lapse of a certain waiting time without the means. Further, as described above in the present embodiment, the AE sensor and the AF sensor are CMs.
Since it has only the OS circuit, it can be manufactured only by the CMOS process.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing still another driving method of the solid-state image pickup device for photometric distance measurement. First, when the distance measurement / photometry operation is started in response to communication from the microcomputer (step 100), the distance measurement operation is first performed. However, as described above, the start-up time of the distance measurement circuit 212 is very short, so the distance measurement circuit is started. The distance measuring operation can be performed almost at the same time when the power of 212 is turned on. Therefore, in FIG. 8, the power-on of the distance measuring circuit 212 is not described similarly, and the drawing is simplified. In the distance measuring operation, the defocus amount at the distance measuring point is measured based on the output of the distance measuring sensor 210, and information for driving the lens is obtained (step 101).

On the other hand, the control logic 214 controls the photometry circuit 21 at the same time as the start of the distance measuring operation or before the end of the distance measuring operation.
3 is turned on (step 102). As a result, the photometric circuit 213 starts up. The present embodiment is characterized in that the photometry circuit 213 is powered on at the same time as the start of the distance measurement operation or before the end of the distance measurement operation.
When the photometry circuit 213 finishes the startup, it notifies the microcomputer of the completion of the startup by serial communication through the control logic 214. Photometric circuit 213
Is in a standby state until the startup is completed (step 103). When the startup is finished,
The microcomputer communicates the photometry operation enable signal to the control logic 214 and shifts to the photometry operation.

In the photometric operation, the brightness information of the subject is obtained based on the output of the photometric sensor 211 (step 10).
4). After completing the metering operation, lock the distance measurement / metering level,
The distance measurement / photometry operation is completed (step 105). Also,
Distance measuring operation (step 101), photometric operation (step 10)
In 4), the power consumption of each drive circuit is cut off after each drive operation is completed to reduce power consumption.

In this embodiment, the circuit shifts to the photometry operation without waiting for the termination of the distance measurement operation. Therefore, the circuit configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 capable of simultaneously obtaining the distance measurement data and the photometry data is required. And

In the present embodiment, the start-up termination determining means of the photometric circuit 213 is similarly provided, but the effect of the present invention is not changed even if the photometric operation is automatically started after a certain waiting time without the provision. Absent. Further, in the present embodiment, since each AE sensor and AF sensor is composed of only a CMOS circuit, it can be manufactured only by the CMOS process.

Next, an embodiment of an image pickup device using the solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example in which the solid-state imaging device for photometry and distance measurement according to the present invention is used in a lens shutter digital compact camera. In FIG. 9, 301 is a barrier that also serves as a lens protector and a main switch, 302 is a lens for forming an optical image of a subject on a solid-state image sensor 304, 303 is a diaphragm for varying the amount of light passing through the lens 302, and 30
Reference numeral 4 is a solid-state image sensor for taking in the subject formed by the lens 302 as an image signal.

Reference numeral 305 is the solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement described in the above embodiments. This solid-state imaging device 30
5 is driven by the driving method as described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 307 denotes an A / D converter for performing analog-digital conversion of an image signal, a photometric signal, and a ranging signal output from the solid-state imaging device 304 or the solid-state imaging device 305 for photometric and ranging.
Reference numeral 08 denotes a signal processing unit that performs various corrections on the image data output from the A / D converter 307 and compresses the data.
Reference numeral 09 denotes a solid-state image sensor 304, an image signal processing circuit 306,
A / D converter 307, a timing generation unit that outputs various timing signals to the signal processing unit 308, 310 is a general control / calculation unit that controls various calculations and the entire camera, and 311 is for temporarily storing image data. Memory section 312
Is an interface unit for recording or reading on a recording medium, 313 is a removable recording medium such as a semiconductor memory for recording or reading image data, 3
Reference numeral 14 is an interface unit for communicating with an external computer or the like.

Next, the operation of the above lens shutter digital compact camera at the time of photographing will be described. First, when the barrier 301 is opened, the main power source is turned on, then the control system power source is turned on, and the A /
The power supply of the imaging system circuit such as the D converter 307 is turned on. Then, in order to control the exposure amount, the overall control / calculation unit 31
At 0, the diaphragm 303 is opened, and the solid-state imaging device 3 for photometry and distance measurement
The signal output from the photometry circuit 213 of 05 is converted by the A / D converter 307, and then input to the signal processing unit 308. Overall control of the exposure calculation based on the data, calculation unit 3
Do 10 The brightness is determined based on the result of this photometry, and the overall control / calculation unit 310 determines the aperture 3 according to the result.
Adjust 03.

Further, based on the signal output from the distance measuring circuit 212 of the solid-state image pickup device 305 for photometric distance measurement, the calculation of the distance to the object is totally controlled by the phase difference detection as described above.
The calculation unit 310 performs this. After that, the lens 302 is driven to determine whether or not the focus is achieved, and when it is determined that the focus is not achieved,
The lens 302 is driven again, distance measurement is performed, and autofocus control is performed.

Next, after the focus is confirmed, the main exposure starts. When the exposure is completed, the image signal output from the solid-state image sensor 304 is A / D converted by the A / D converter 307, passes through the signal processing unit 308, and is written in the memory unit 311 by the overall control / calculation 310. After that, the memory unit 3
The data stored in 11 passes through the recording medium control I / F unit 312 under the control of the overall control / arithmetic unit 310, and is recorded on a removable recording medium 313 such as a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, the image may be processed by directly inputting it to a computer or the like through the external I / F unit 314. The solid-state imaging device for photometry and distance measurement according to the present invention can also be used in a silver halide camera.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the photometering circuit can be started up in advance by turning on the power supply of the photometering circuit before the end of the distance measuring operation. Can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional one. Therefore, by using the solid-state imaging device for photometry and distance measurement according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a lens shutter compact camera in which the shutter release time is short and a comfortable operation feeling can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which distance measurement data and photometric data are separately output.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a planar layout of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a distance measuring circuit including a distance measuring sensor used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a photometric circuit including a photometric sensor used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a driving method of the solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another driving method.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing still another driving method.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image pickup device using the solid-state image pickup device for photometry and distance measurement according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an AF sensor having a photometric function of a conventional example.

11 is a flowchart showing a driving method of the AF sensor of FIG.

12 is a circuit diagram showing a logarithmic compression circuit used in the photometric circuit of the AF sensor of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 pn photodiode 2 Reset MOS transistor 3 CMOS differential amplifier 4 clamp capacity 5-9 MOS switch 10 Maximum value detection differential amplifier 11 Minimum value detection differential amplifier 12, 13 MOS switch 14 OR circuit 15 Scanning circuit 16, 17 constant current MOS transistor 210 distance measuring sensor 211 Photometric sensor 212 distance measuring circuit 213 Photometric circuit 214 control logic 215 multiplexer 216 Si semiconductor substrate 217 analog circuits 220 photodiode 221 diode 222 Operational amplifier 223 Power supply voltage input terminal 224 Constant voltage input terminal 225 output terminal

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H011 BB02 DA01                 2H051 CB21 CB25 EA11 EA24 GB09                 2H100 BB11                 4M118 AA10 AB03 BA14 CA03 FA08                       FA50

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and a photometric circuit that generates light measuring data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In the solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, the photometry and ranging device is provided with a driving means for turning on the power of the photometry circuit before the completion of the ranging operation of the range finding circuit. Solid state imaging device. 2. The photometric circuit has a circuit for logarithmically compressing the optical signal amount of the photometric sensor.
The solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging according to. 3. The driving means are laid out on the same semiconductor substrate.
The solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to any one of 1. 4. The solid-state imaging device is manufactured by a CMOS process.
The solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to any one of 1. 5. A distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and a photometric circuit that generates light measuring data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In a solid-state image pickup device for photometry and ranging laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, powering on the photometry circuit, powering on the range finding circuit, range finding operation of the range finding circuit, powering off of the range finding circuit, A solid-state image pickup device for distance-measuring photometry, comprising drive means for driving in the order of photometry operation of the photometry circuit and power-off of the photometry circuit. 6. The photometric circuit has a circuit for logarithmically compressing the optical signal amount of the photometric sensor.
The solid-state imaging device for photometry and ranging according to. 7. The driving means are laid out on the same semiconductor substrate.
The solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to any one of 1. 8. The solid-state imaging device is manufactured by a CMOS process.
The solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to any one of 1. 9. A distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and a photometric circuit that generates light measuring data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. A solid-state image pickup device for photometric distance measurement, comprising: driving means for turning on the power supply of the photometric circuit before completion of the distance measurement operation of the distance measurement circuit. 10. The solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging according to claim 9, wherein the photometric circuit has a circuit for logarithmically compressing the optical signal amount of the photometric sensor. 11. The driving means supplies power to the photometric circuit, powers to the distance measuring circuit, distance measuring operation of the distance measuring circuit, shuts down power to the distance measuring circuit, photometric operation of the light measuring circuit, and The solid-state imaging device for photometry and distance measurement according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the photometry circuit is driven in the order of power-off. 12. A distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and a photometric circuit that generates light measuring data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In the method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometric distance measurement laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, the solid state for photometric distance measurement is characterized in that the power supply of the photometric circuit is turned on before the distance measurement operation of the distance measurement circuit is completed. A method for driving an imaging device. 13. A distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and a photometric circuit that generates light measuring data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In a method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging, which is laid out on the same semiconductor substrate, in which the power of the photometric circuit is turned on, the power of the range finding circuit is turned on, the range finding operation of the range finding circuit, and the range finding circuit A method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometric distance measurement, comprising driving in the order of power-off, photometric operation of the photometric circuit, and power-off of the photometric circuit. 14. A distance measuring sensor, a distance measuring circuit that generates distance measuring data based on the output of the distance measuring sensor, a photometric sensor, and a photometric circuit that generates light measuring data based on the output of the light measuring sensor. In the method for driving a solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging, the method for driving the solid-state imaging device for photometric and ranging is characterized in that the photometric circuit is turned on before the completion of the ranging operation of the ranging circuit. 15. The solid-state imaging device for photometric distance measurement according to claim 1, a detection region for detecting a subject image, a lens for forming light on the detection region, and the photometry. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a signal processing circuit for performing distance measurement control and photometry control based on a signal from the solid-state image pickup apparatus for distance measurement.