Solid-state imaging device controlling read-out of signals from pixels in first and second areas

A solid-state imaging device comprising:

• a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit configured to photoelectrically convert incident light and generate signal charges, and a charge accumulating portion configured to accumulate signal charges transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to perform, before completing a read-out of signals from the plurality of pixels, an accumulation of signal charges into the charge accumulating portion of the pixel among the plurality of pixels which the signal is already read out,
• wherein:
• the plurality of pixels are provided in a pixel area including a first area and a second area;
• and
• the control unit controls so as to perform, after a read-out of the signals from the pixels in the first area is completed, a read-out of the signals from the pixels in the second area, and to start, after the read-out of the signals from the pixels in the first area is completed and before the read-out of the signals from the pixels in the second area is completed, an accumulation of the signal charges at the charge accumulating portion of the pixels in the first area.

An imaging system comprising:

• a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit configured to photoelectrically convert incident light and generate signal charges, a charge accumulating portion configured to accumulate signal charges transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit, a floating diffusion portion configured to accumulate signal charges transferred from the charge accumulating portion, and a read-out unit including a transfer transistor configured to transfer signal charges from the charge accumulating portion to the floating diffusion portion and an amplifier transistor configured to read out a signal corresponding to the signal charges transferred to the floating diffusion portion, and a control unit configured to control the read-out unit so as to perform, after starting a read-out of signals of one frame from the charge accumulating portions of the plurality of pixels, an accumulation of signal charges for a next frame at the photoelectric conversion units of the plurality of pixels simultaneously, and to start, before completing the read-out of the signal of the one frame, an accumulation of signal charges at the charge accumulating portion of a pixel among the plurality of pixels from which the signal of the one frame is already read out,
• wherein the plurality of pixels are provided in a pixel area including a first area and a second area, and
• wherein the control unit controls the read-out unit so as to perform, after a read-out of the signals from the pixels in the first area is completed, a read-out of the signals from the pixels in the second area, and to start, after the read-out of the signals from the pixels in the first area is completed and before the read-out of the signals from the pixels in the second area is completed, an accumulation of the signal charges at the charge accumulating portion of the pixels in the first area;
• and
• a signal processing device configured to process the signal output from the solid-state imaging device.