Driving method for an image pickup apparatus, image pickup apparatus, and image pickup system

A driving method for an image pickup apparatus that includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and a plurality of signal lines each being arranged correspond to one of the columns of the plurality of pixels,

• the plurality of pixels including a plurality of effective pixels arranged in the rows and the columns, and reference pixels arranged in at least one row and the columns corresponding to the columns in which the plurality of effective pixels are arranged,
• each of the plurality of effective pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit to perform a photoelectric conversion of incident light and an amplification transistor having an input node for inputting charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and
• each of the plurality of reference pixels including a light-shielded photoelectric conversion unit and an amplification transistor having an input node,
• the driving method comprising:
• a first operation of overlapping a first period with a second period during which a signal generated based on the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit in each of the plurality of effective pixels is output to one of the signal lines by connecting a plurality of amplification transistors in a first number of the plurality of effective pixels, to the one of the signal lines, without electrically connecting the input node of the amplification transistor in each of the plurality of effective pixels, and
• a second operation of:
• individually outputting the signal of the noise level to the single signal line by the amplification transistor in each of the plurality of reference pixels, or
• overlapping a third period with a fourth period when a signal generated based on a potential at the input node of each of the plurality of reference pixels is output to the one of signal lines by connecting a plurality of amplification transistors in a second number of the plurality of reference pixels, to the one of the signal lines, without electrically connecting the input node of the amplification transistor in each of the plurality of reference pixels to the other of the plurality of reference pixels, the second number being fewer than the first number.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns;
• a plurality of signal lines each being arranged to correspond to one of the columns of the plurality of pixels;
• and
• a control unit that causes the plurality of pixels to perform both a first operation and a second operation,
• the plurality of pixels including a plurality of effective pixels arranged in the rows and the columns, and a plurality of reference pixels that are arranged in at least one row and the columns corresponding to the columns in which the plurality of effective pixels are arranged and output only a signal of a noise level,
• each of the plurality of effective pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit to perform a photoelectric conversion of incident light and an amplification transistor having an input node to which charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit are input, and
• each of the plurality of reference pixels including an amplification transistor having an input node,
• a first operation of overlapping a first period with a second period during which a signal generated based on the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit in each of the plurality of effective pixels is output to one of the signal lines by connecting a plurality of amplification transistors in a first number of the plurality of effective pixels, to the one of the signal lines, without electrically connecting the input node of the amplification transistor in each of the plurality of effective pixels, and
• a second operation of:
• individually outputting the signal of the noise level to the single signal line by the amplification transistor in each of the plurality of reference pixels, or
• overlapping a third period with a fourth period when a signal generated based on a potential at the input node of each of the plurality of reference pixels is output to the one of signal lines by connecting a plurality of amplification transistors in a second number of the plurality of reference pixels, to the one of the signal lines, without electrically connecting the input node of the amplification transistor in each of the plurality of reference pixels to the other of the plurality of reference pixels, the second number being fewer than the first number.