Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system and driving method of image pickup apparatus

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of pixel units each including a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplification transistor that outputs a signal based on an electric carrier generated by the photoelectric conversion unit;
• a first output line to which a signal from two or more pixel units, including a first pixel unit, among the plurality of pixel units is output;
• a second output line to which a signal from two or more pixel units, including a second pixel unit, among the plurality of pixel units is output;
• a connection unit configured to control an electric connection between an input node of the amplification transistor included in the first pixel unit and an input node of the amplification transistor included in the second pixel unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to selectively output an addition signal of a signal of the first pixel unit and a signal of the second pixel unit to the first output line out of the first output line and the second output line, wherein the addition signal is acquired by mutually connecting the input node of the first pixel unit and the input node of the second pixel unit by the connection unit.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of pixel units each configured to include a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplification transistor that outputs a signal based on an electric carrier generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and be arranged in a matrix manner;
• a first output line to which a signal from two or more pixel units arranged in a first column, including a first pixel unit, among the plurality of pixel units is output;
• a second output line to which a signal from two or more pixel units arranged in a second column, including a second pixel unit, among the plurality of pixel units is output;
• a connection unit configured to control an electric connection between an input node of the amplification transistor included in the first pixel unit and an input node of the amplification transistor included in the second pixel unit;
• a first selection transistor connected in series to the amplification transistor included in the first pixel unit;
• and
• a second selection transistor connected in series to the amplification transistor included in the second pixel unit, wherein:
• the first pixel unit and the second pixel unit are arranged in a same row;
• and
• the first selection transistor and the second selection transistor are controlled independently from each other.

A driving method of an image pickup apparatus, wherein:

• the image pickup apparatus comprises:
• a plurality of pixel units each including a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplification transistor that outputs a signal based on an electric carrier generated by the photoelectric conversion unit;
• a first output line to which a signal from two or more pixel units, including a first pixel unit, among the plurality of pixel units is output;
• a second output line to which a signal from two or more pixel units, including a second pixel unit, among the plurality of pixel units is output;
• and
• a connection unit configured to control an electric connection between an input node of the amplification transistor included in the first pixel unit and an input node of the amplification transistor included in the second pixel;
• and
• the driving method comprises:
• a first output step of selectively outputting a signal from at least one of the first pixel unit and the second pixel unit to the first output line out of the first output line and the second output line, in a case where the connection unit mutually and electrically connects the plurality of input nodes;
• and
• a second output step of outputting a signal from the first pixel unit to the first output line and outputting a signal from the second pixel unit to the second output line, in a case where the connection unit blocks the electric connection of the plurality of input nodes.