(19)
(11) EP 2 290 822 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
06.04.2011 Bulletin 2011/14

(43) Date of publication:
02.03.2011 Bulletin 2011/09

(21) Application number: 10011235.8

(22) Date of filing: 25.04.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H03M 1/10(2006.01)
H03K 23/56(2006.01)
H03M 1/56(2006.01)
H03K 23/62(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 26.04.2004 JP 2004129389

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
09003836.5 / 2091154
05009016.6 / 1592134

(71) Applicant: Sony Corporation
Tokyo 108-0075 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Muramatsu, Yoshinori
    Tokyo, 108-0075 (JP)
  • Fukushima, Noriyuki
    Tokyo, 108-0075 (JP)
  • Nitta, Yoshikazu
    Tokyo, 108-0075 (JP)
  • Yasui, Yukihiro
    Yokohama-shi Kanagawa (JP)

(74) Representative: Müller - Hoffmann & Partner 
Patentanwälte Innere Wiener Strasse 17
81667 München
81667 München (DE)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 28-09-2010 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Counter circuit, AD conversion method, AD converter, semiconductor device for detecting distribution of physical quantities, and electronics apparatus


(57) An asynchronous counter that is capable of switching count mode includes flip-flops, and three-input single-output tri-value switches respectively provided between the adjacent pairs of the flip-flops. The tri-value switches switch among three values, namely, non-inverting outputs and inverting outputs of the flip-flops and a power supply level. Each of the tri-value switches switch among the three input signals according to two-bit control signals, and input a selected signal to a clock terminal of a subsequent flip-flop. When count mode is switched according to the control signals, a count value immediately before the mode switching is set as an initial value, and counting after the mode switching is started from the initial value.