Photoelectric conversion device and method of driving photoelectric conversion device

A photoelectric conversion device comprising:

• a plurality of pixel circuits arranged to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
• and
• a control circuit configured to drive the plurality of pixel circuits,
• wherein each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes a signal generation circuit including a photoelectric conversion unit, a memory configured to hold a signal output from the signal generation circuit, and a sequential circuit to which the signal is transferred from the memory,
• wherein the plurality of pixel circuits includes a first group and a second group each including two or more of the pixel circuits arranged in the same row,
• wherein the sequential circuits of the pixel circuits constituting each of the first group and the second group are connected in series along a row direction, and are configured to sequentially transfer the signals held by the respective pixel circuits from one side to the other side along the row direction in accordance with a control signal from the control circuit, and
• wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a signal transfer operation in the pixel circuits of the first group and a signal transfer operation in the pixel circuits of the second group in parallel by supplying a common control signal to the pixel circuits of the first group and the pixel circuits of the second group.

A signal output device comprising:

• a plurality of signal holding circuits arranged to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
• and
• a control circuit configured to drive the plurality of signal holding circuits,
• wherein each of the plurality of signal holding circuits includes a memory configured to hold a predetermined signal, and a sequential circuit to which the signal is transferred from the memory,
• wherein the plurality of signal holding circuits includes a first group and a second group each including two or more of the signal holding circuits arranged in the same row,
• wherein the sequential circuits of the signal holding circuits constituting each of the first group and the second group are connected in series along a row direction, and are configured to sequentially transfer the signals held by the respective signal holding circuits from one side to the other side along the row direction in accordance with a control signal from the control circuit, and
• wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a signal transfer operation in the signal holding circuits of the first group and a signal transfer operation in the signal holding circuits of the second group in parallel by supplying a common control signal to the signal holding circuits of the first group and the signal holding circuits of the second group.

A method of driving a photoelectric conversion device including a plurality of pixel circuits arranged to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes a signal generation circuit including a photoelectric conversion unit, a memory configured to hold a signal output from the signal generation circuit, and a sequential circuit to which the signal is transferred from the memory, wherein the plurality of pixel circuits includes a first group and a second group each including two or more of the pixel circuits arranged in the same row, and wherein the sequential circuits of the pixel circuits constituting each of the first group and the second group are connected in series along a row direction, the method comprising:

• holding a signal based on charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit by an incidence of light in the memory in each of the plurality of pixel circuits;
• transferring the signal held in the memory to the sequential circuit in each of the plurality of pixel circuits;
• and
• sequentially transferring the signals held by the sequential circuits of the pixel circuits constituting each of the first group and the second group from one side to the other side along the row direction,
• wherein in the sequentially transferring, a signal transfer operation in the pixel circuits of the first group and a signal transfer operation in the pixel circuits of the second group are performed in parallel by supplying a common control signal to the pixel circuits of the first group and the pixel circuits of the second group.