Imaging element, control method, and storage medium

A method for controlling an imaging element which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, wherein each pixel has a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge holding unit configured to accumulate charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer switch configured to transfer charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge holding unit, a plurality of voltage holding units arranged in a two-dimensional manner, wherein each voltage holding unit is configured to hold a voltage signal according to the charges of the charge holding unit, a plurality of selection switches configured to transfer the voltage signals held in the plurality of voltage holding units to vertical signal lines, a source follower unit configured to transfer the voltage signal to the voltage holding unit, a current source configured to drive the source follower unit, and a current source switch configured to selectively connect the source follower unit and the current source, the method comprising:

• transferring the charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge holding unit all at once by the transfer switch;
• sequentially connecting the source follower unit and the current source by the current source switch to sequentially transfer the voltage signal according to the charges accumulated in the charge holding unit to the voltage holding unit arranged in the two-dimensional manner, and then sequentially transferring the voltage signals held in the plurality of voltage holding units arranged in the two-dimensional manner to corresponding vertical signal line by the plurality of selection switches.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store a computer program for an imaging element wherein the imaging element comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, wherein each pixel has a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge holding unit configured to accumulate charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer switch configured to transfer charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge holding unit, a plurality of voltage holding units arranged in a two-dimensional manner, wherein each voltage holding unit is configured to hold a voltage signal according to the charges of the charge holding unit, a plurality of selection switches configured to transfer the voltage signals held in the plurality of voltage holding units to vertical signal lines;

• a source follower unit configured to transfer the voltage signal to the voltage holding unit, a current source configured to drive the source follower unit, and a current source switch configured to selectively connect the source follower unit and the current source;
• wherein the computer program comprises instructions for executing following processes:
• transferring the charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge holding unit all at once by the transfer switch;
• and
• sequentially connecting the source follower unit and the current source by the current source switch to sequentially transfer the voltage signal according to the charges accumulated in the charge holding unit to the voltage holding unit arranged in the two-dimensional manner, and then sequentially transferring the voltage signals held in the plurality of voltage holding units arranged in the two-dimensional manner to corresponding vertical signal line by the plurality of selection switches.