Pixel drive circuit, image capture device, and camera system

A pixel drive circuit, comprising:

• a plurality of pixel circuits each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape;
• an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line;
• a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder;
• and
• a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit,
• wherein,
• the pixel circuits include (a) a node to which an electric charge accumulated by the photoelectric converting unit is supplied, (b) an electric-charge discharging unit for discharging the electric charge of the node, (c) an output unit for amplifying a potential of the node corresponding to an amount of the electric charge and outputting the amplified potential,
• the control circuit controls the electric-charge discharging unit to execute a charge discharging operation for discharging an electric charge accumulated by the photoelectric converting unit,
• the storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed, and
• both a row selection signal and an address selection signal output by the address decoder are received by the storage circuit in such a way that either signal causes the control circuit to effect the charge discharging operation.

An image capture device, comprising:

• a plurality of pixel circuits each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape;
• a pixel drive circuit for successively selecting and controlling the pixel circuits;
• and
• a reading unit for reading a signal from the pixel circuits controlled by the pixel drive circuit,
• wherein,
• the pixel drive circuit includes(a) an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line, (b)
• a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder, and (c) a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit,
• the control circuit controls a charge discharging operation of discharging an electric charge remaining in the photoelectric converting unit of each of the pixel circuits,
• the storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed, and
• both a row selection signal and an address selection signal output by the address decoder are received by the storage circuit in such a way that either signal causes the control circuit to effect the charge discharging operation.

A camera system, comprising:

• an image capture device;
• an optical system for guiding an incident light to an imaging area of the image capture device;
• and
• a signal processing circuit for processing a signal outputted by the image capture device,
• wherein,
• the image capture device includes (a) a plurality of pixel circuits each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape, (b) a pixel drive circuit for successively selecting and controlling the pixel circuits, and (c) a reading unit for reading a signal from the pixel circuits controlled by the pixel drive circuit,
• the pixel drive circuit includes (a) an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line, (b)
• a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder, and (c) a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit,
• the control circuit controls a charge discharging operation of discharging an electric charge remaining in the photoelectric converting unit of each of the pixel circuits,
• the storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed, and
• both a row selection signal and an address selection signal output by the address decoder are received by the storage circuit in such a way that either signal causes the control circuit to effect the charge discharging operation.