Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, and camera system

A method of driving a solid-state imaging device, comprising:

• reading out a pixel signal from a pixel section in which a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element are arranged in a matrix;
• performing a column process, synchronized with a first clock of a first frequency previously selected, on the pixel signal read out by the reading out;
• and
• performing a rate conversion control of data processed in the performing of a column process, in accordance with rate conversion information,
• wherein the performing a rate conversion control includes
• generating the first clock and supplying the generated first clock to the performing a column process, on the basis of a reference clock which is a second clock of a second frequency,
• generating a third clock of a third frequency which changes depending on a data rate, on the basis of the reference clock which is the second clock of the second frequency,
• converting a rate of data processed in the performing of a column process through a process including an addition process, and outputting data after the conversion or before the conversion as second data, and
• outputting the second data which is converted by the converting a rate of data, in synchronization with the third clock.

A camera system comprising:

• a solid-state imaging device;
• an optical system that forms a subject image in the solid-state imaging device;
• and
• a signal processing circuit that processes an output image signal of the solid-state imaging device,
• wherein the solid-state imaging device includes
• a pixel section in which a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element are arranged in a matrix;
• a pixel driving section that drives the pixels in a row unit so as to read out a pixel signal from the pixel section;
• a column processing section that performs a column process, synchronized with a first clock of a first frequency previously selected, on the pixel signal read out by driving of the pixel driving section;
• and
• a rate conversion control section that performs a rate conversion control of data processed in the column processing section in accordance with rate conversion information, and
• the rate conversion control section includes
• a first rate converter that generates the first clock and supplies the first clock to the column processing section, on the basis of a reference clock which is a second clock of a second frequency,
• a second rate converter that generates a third clock of a third frequency which changes depending on a data rate, on the basis of the reference clock which is the second clock of the second frequency,
• a data rate conversion section that converts a rate of data processed in the column processing section through a process including an addition process, and outputs data after the conversion or before the conversion as second data, and
• a data output section that outputs the second data which is output from the data rate conversion section, in synchronization with the third clock.