Solid-state imaging device, its driving method, and camera system

A solid-state imaging device comprising:

• a pixel section in which unit pixels are arranged in matrix form and a signal of each pixel is output as an electrical signal;
• a vertical driving section including a vertical scanning circuit for selecting, on a row basis, pixels from which to read out signals, and a vertical shutter scanning circuit for selecting, on a row basis, pixels for which to perform a shutter operation prior to selection of a read pixel row by the vertical scanning circuit;
• and
• a horizontal scanning section including a horizontal scanning circuit for sequentially selecting the pixels of the read pixel row selected by the vertical scanning circuit and a shutter pixel row selected by the vertical shutter scanning circuit, and a horizontal shutter scanning circuit for selecting, on a pixel basis, a pixel for which to perform a shutter operation prior to the pixel selection by the horizontal scanning circuit,
• wherein a read pulse that is output in selecting a first pixel by the horizontal scanning circuit or the horizontal shutter scanning circuit also serves as a reset pulse for a second pixel that is adjacent to the first pixel in a column direction.

A driving method of a solid-state imaging device in which unit pixels are arranged in matrix form and a signal of each pixel is output as an electrical signal, comprising:

• selecting, on a row basis, pixels for which to perform a shutter operation, and selecting a row of the selected pixels as a read pixel row from which to read a signal after a lapse of a first exposure time;
• and
• selecting, on a pixel basis, a pixel for which to perform a shutter operation from the pixels of the selected read pixel row, and reading out a signal of the selected pixel after a lapse of a second exposure time,
• wherein a horizontal selection pulse that is output in selecting a first pixel also serves as a read pulse for a second pixel that is adjacent to the first pixel in a column direction.

A camera using a solid-state imaging device comprising:

• a pixel section in which unit pixels are arranged in matrix form and a signal of each pixel is output as an electrical signal;
• a vertical driving section including a vertical scanning circuit for selecting, on a row basis, pixels from which to read out signals, and a vertical shutter scanning circuit for selecting, on a row basis, pixels for which to perform a shutter operation prior to selection of a read pixel row by the vertical scanning circuit;
• and
• a horizontal scanning section including a horizontal scanning circuit for sequentially selecting the pixels of the read pixel row selected by the vertical scanning circuit and a shutter pixel row selected by the vertical shutter scanning circuit, and a horizontal shutter scanning circuit for selecting, on a pixel basis, a pixel for which to perform a shutter operation prior to the pixel selection by the horizontal scanning circuit,
• wherein a horizontal selection pulse that is output in selecting a first pixel by the horizontal scanning circuit or the horizontal shutter scanning circuit also serves as a read pulse for a second pixel that is adjacent to the first pixel in a column direction.

A driving method of a solid-state imaging device in which unit pixels are arranged in matrix form and a signal of each pixel is output as an electrical signal, comprising:

• selecting, on a row basis, pixels for which to perform a shutter operation, and selecting a row of the selected pixels as a read pixel row from which to read a signal after a lapse of a first exposure time;
• and
• selecting, on a pixel basis, a pixel for which to perform a shutter operation from the pixels of the selected read pixel row, and reading out a signal of the selected pixel after a lapse of a second exposure time,
• wherein a read pulse that is output in selecting a first pixel also serves as a reset pulse for a second pixel that is adjacent to the first pixel in a column direction.

A camera using a solid-state imaging device comprising:

• a pixel section in which unit pixels are arranged in matrix form and a signal of each pixel is output as an electrical signal;
• a vertical driving section including a vertical scanning circuit for selecting, on a row basis, pixels from which to read out signals, and a vertical shutter scanning circuit for selecting, on a row basis, pixels for which to perform a shutter operation prior to selection of a read pixel row by the vertical scanning circuit;
• and
• a horizontal scanning section including a horizontal scanning circuit for sequentially selecting the pixels of the read pixel row selected by the vertical scanning circuit and a shutter pixel row selected by the vertical shutter scanning circuit, and a horizontal shutter scanning circuit for selecting, on a pixel basis, a pixel for which to perform a shutter operation prior to the pixel selection by the horizontal scanning circuit,
• wherein a read pulse that is output in selecting a first pixel by the horizontal scanning circuit or the horizontal shutter scanning circuit also serves as a reset pulse for a second pixel that is adjacent to the first pixel in a column direction.