Solid-state image pickup device, image pickup device, and signal reading method

A solid-state image pickup device comprising:

• first and second substrates on which circuit elements constituting a pixel are arranged, the first and second substrates being electrically coupled to each other;
• wherein the first substrate comprises:
• a photoelectric conversion element included in the pixel;
• an output terminal included in the pixel, the output terminal being coupled to the photoelectric conversion element;
• a first output signal line coupled to the output terminal;
• a switch coupled to the output terminal and the first output signal line, and
• a first readout circuit electrically connected to the first output signal line, configured to output a signal correspond to a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element outward the solid-state image pickup device, and
• the second substrate comprises:
• an input terminal coupled to the output terminal;
• a capacitor coupled to the input terminal;
• a second output signal line coupled to the capacitor;
• and
• a second readout circuit electrically connected to the second output signal line, configured to output a signal correspond to a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element outward the solid-state image pickup device.

An image pickup device comprising:

• a plurality of substrates on which circuit elements constituting a pixel are arranged, the plurality of substrates being electrically coupled to one another;
• a photoelectric conversion element included in the pixel;
• a reading circuit configured to read from the pixel, a signal based on a signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element;
• first to n-th circuit sets each comprising a circuit element configured to read a signal by a corresponding one of first to n-th reading modes;
• and
• a control circuit configured to control:
• the circuit elements arranged on one of the plurality of substrates, so as to complete operations from generation of the signal by the photoelectric conversion element to reading of the signal outward the solid-state image pickup device, using the circuit elements arranged on the one of the plurality of substrates, in the first reading modes, and
• the circuit elements arranged on at least two of the plurality of substrates, so as to complete operations from generation of the signal by the photoelectric conversion element to reading of the signal outward the solid-state image pickup device, using the circuit elements arranged on the at least two of the plurality of substrates, in the second reading modes, wherein
• n is an integer equal to or greater than two, and
• the photoelectric conversion element, the reading circuit, and at least one of the first to n-th circuit sets which corresponds to the at least one of the first to n-th reading modes, are arranged on the one of the plurality of substrates.

An image pickup device comprising:

• first and second substrates on which circuit elements constituting a pixel are arranged, the first and second substrates being electrically coupled to each other;
• wherein the first substrate comprises:
• a photoelectric conversion element included in the pixel;
• an output terminal included in the pixel, the output terminal being coupled to the photoelectric conversion element;
• a first output signal line coupled to the output terminal;
• a switch coupled to the output terminal and the first output signal line, and
• a first readout circuit electrically connected to the first output signal line, configured to output a signal correspond to a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element outward the solid-state image pickup device, and
• the second substrate comprises:
• an input terminal coupled to the output terminal;
• a capacitor coupled to the input terminal;
• a second output signal line coupled to the capacitor;
• and
• a second readout circuit electrically connected to the second output signal line, configured to output a signal correspond to a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element outward the solid-state image pickup device.

A signal reading method comprising:

• reading, by at least one of a first reading mode and a second reading mode, a signal from a pixel of a solid-state image pickup device, the solid-state image pickup device comprising first and second substrates on which circuit elements constituting a pixel are arranged, and the first and second substrates being electrically coupled to each other,
• wherein reading the signal by the first reading mode comprises:
• generating a signal by a photoelectric conversion element on the first substrate, the photoelectric conversion element being included in the pixel;
• outputting the signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element from an output terminal on the first substrate, the output terminal being included in the pixel and coupled to the photoelectric conversion element;
• and
• outputting the signal output from the output terminal to a first output signal line on the first substrate, the first output signal line being coupled to the output terminal outputting the signal output from the first output signal line outward the solid-state image pickup device, and
• reading the signal by the second reading mode comprises:
• generating a signal by the photoelectric conversion element;
• storing the signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element into a capacitor on the second substrate via the output terminal and an input terminal on the second substrate, the capacitor being coupled to the input terminal, and the input terminal being coupled to the output terminal;
• outputting the signal stored in the capacitor to a second output signal line on the second substrate, the second output signal line being coupled to the capacitor;
• and
• outputting the signal output from the second output signal line outward the solid-state image pickup device.