Solid-state imaging device, method for driving solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus

• US 10,277,856 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brillnics Singapore Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Brillnics Inc.
• Inventors: Okura, Shunsuke, Otaka, Toshinori, Nakamura, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannett, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/718,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20180091754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/53 Control of the integration time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/531 by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/745 Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/77 Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components

Abstract

A pixel portion includes a first pixel array in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of first pixels are arranged in a matrix, a holding part array in which a plurality of signal holding parts of first pixels are arranged in a matrix, and a second pixel array in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of second pixels are arranged in a matrix, wherein, at the time of a rolling shutter mode, readout signals of the photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels and the second pixels are immediately output to a first vertical signal line without following a bypass route and, at the time of a global shutter mode, held signals of the signal holding parts of the first pixels are output to a second vertical signal line. Due to this, a solid-state imaging device can prevent complication of the configuration.

Claims

1. A solid-state imaging device comprising:

a pixel portion which are arranged at least first pixels including photoelectric conversion reading parts and signal holding parts and second pixels including photoelectric conversion reading parts,

a readout portion for reading pixel signals from the pixel portion,

a first signal line to which readout signals of the photoelectric conversion reading parts are output, and

a second signal line to which held signals of the signal holding parts are output, wherein

a photoelectric conversion reading part of at least the first pixels includes

an output node,

a photoelectric conversion element which accumulates a charge generated by photoelectric conversion in an accumulation period,

a transfer element capable of transferring the charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element in a transfer period,

a floating diffusion to which the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element is transferred through the transfer element,

a source follower element which converts the charge of the floating diffusion to a voltage signal corresponding to the charge amount and outputs the converted signal to the output node,

a reset element which resets the floating diffusion to a predetermined potential in a reset period, and

a selection element which electrically connects the output node with the first signal line in a first period, and

the signal holding part includes

a signal holding capacitor capable of holding a signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixels,

a switch element which selectively connects the signal holding capacitor with the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part in a second period, and

an output part including a source follower element which outputs a signal held in the signal holding capacitor in accordance with a held voltage in the second period and selectively outputting the converted signal to the second signal line, and wherein the pixel portion includes at least

a first pixel array in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels are arranged in a matrix,

a second pixel array in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of the second pixels are arranged in a matrix, and

a holding part array in which the plurality of signal holding parts of the first pixels are arranged in a matrix, and wherein

the photoelectric conversion reading part of the second pixels includes

a photoelectric conversion element which accumulates a charge generated by photoelectric conversion in an accumulation period,

a transfer element capable of transferring the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element in a transfer period,

a floating diffusion to which the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element is transferred through the transfer element,

a source follower element which converts the charge in the floating diffusion to a voltage signal corresponding to a charge amount

a reset element which resets the floating diffusion to a predetermined potential in a reset period, and

a selection element which electrically connects the output line of the voltage signal from the source follower element with the first signal line in the first period.

2. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second pixel array is arranged at least at one side of the two sides of the first pixel array in the wiring direction of the first signal line.

3. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second pixel array is arranged at least at one side of the two sides of the first pixel array in the direction perpendicular to the wiring direction of the first signal line.

4. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at the time of the first operation, the readout portion makes the first pixel array of the first pixels and the second pixel array of the second pixels active to read out the pixel signals.

5. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, at the time of the second operation, the readout portion renders the selection elements in the photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels and the second pixels the non-selection state then makes the first pixel array and the holding part array of the first pixels active to read out the pixel signals.

6. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein,

at the time of the first operation, the readout portion makes the first pixel array of the first pixels and the second pixel array of the second pixels active to read out the pixel signals and,

at the time of the second operation, renders the selection elements of the photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels and the second pixels the non-selection state then makes the first pixel array and the holding part array of the first pixels active to read out the pixel signals.

7. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

at the time of the second operation, the readout portion can output an image having any aspect ratio which can be formed in the first pixel array and,

at the time of first operation, the readout portion can output an image having any aspect ratio which can be formed in a composite pixel array formed by the first pixel array and the second pixel array.

8. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the pixel signal read out from the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel includes at least a reset readout signal and readout signal, and

the signal holding part includes

a first holding node,

a second holding node,

a first signal holding capacitor which is connected to the first holding node and can hold the signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel,

a second signal holding capacitor which is connected to the second holding node and can hold the signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel,

a first switch element which selectively connects the first holding node to which the first signal holding capacitor is connected with the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part in the second period,

a second switch element which selectively connects the first holding node and the second holding node in the second period, and

an output part including a source follower element which outputs, in the second period, the signal held in the second signal holding capacitor connected to at least the second holding node between the first holding node and the second holding node in accordance with the held voltage and selectively outputting the converted signal to the second signal line.

9. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the readout portion

reads out, as pixel signals, the reset readout signal from the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel, then reads out the readout signal,

when reading the reset readout signal as the pixel signal, makes the first switch element and the second switch element of the signal holding part conductive in a predetermined period to make the second signal holding capacitor hold the readout reset signal and renders the second switch element the non-conductive state,

when reading the readout signal as the pixel signal, holds the second switch element of the signal holding part in the non-conductive state, makes the first switch element conductive to make the first signal holding capacitor hold the readout signal, and renders the first switch element the non-conductive state,

in a state where the first switch element and the second switch element are held in the non-conductive state, outputs a conversion signal corresponding to the reset readout signal held in the second signal holding capacitor to the second signal line, and,

in a state where the first switch element is held in the non-conductive state and the second switch element is held in the conductive state, outputs a conversion signal corresponding to a composite signal of the reset readout signal held in the second signal holding capacitor and the readout signal held in the first signal holding capacitor to the second signal line.

10. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the device has a stacked structure which includes

a first substrate and

a second substrate,

the first substrate and the second substrate connected through a connection part,

the first substrate is formed with at least the photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels and the first signal line, and

the second substrate is formed with at least the signal holding parts of the first pixels, the second signal line, and at least a portion of the readout portion.

11. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the device has a stacked structure which includes

a first substrate and

a second substrate,

the first substrate and the second substrate connected through a connection part,

the first substrate is formed with at least the first pixel array, the second pixel array, the first signal line, and a portion of the readout portion, and

the second substrate is formed with at least the signal holding parts of the first pixels, the second signal line, and at least a portion of the readout portion.

12. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the device includes a charge re-utilization part which transfers charges held in the signal holding capacitors of the plurality of signal holding parts of the first pixels to an external capacitor and reuses the same as the power supply of a digital circuit of its own chip.

13. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the charge re-utilization part includes

an external capacitor capable of accumulating the charges held in the signal holding capacitors of the plurality of signal holding parts of the first pixels and

a power supply circuit part capable of supplying processing-use power generated by using the charges held in the external capacitor to a processing system circuit.

14. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

a pixel signal read out from the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel at least includes a reset readout signal and readout signal, and

the signal holding part includes

a first holding node,

a second holding node,

a first signal holding capacitor which is connected to the first holding node and can hold the signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel,

a second signal holding capacitor which is connected to the second holding node and can hold the signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel,

a first switch element which selectively connects the first holding node to which the first signal holding capacitor is connected with the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part in the second period,

a second switch element which selectively connects the first holding node and the second holding node in the second period,

an external connection switch element which connects the first holding node with the external capacitor in a charge recycle period, and

an output part including a source follower element which outputs, in the second period, the signal held in the second signal holding capacitor connected to at least the second holding node between the first holding node and the second holding node in accordance with the held voltage and selectively outputting the converted signal to the second signal line.

15. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the readout portion

reads out, as pixel signals, the reset readout signal from the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixel, then reads out the readout signal,

when reading the reset readout signal as the pixel signal, makes the first switch element and the second switch element of the signal holding part conductive in a predetermined period to make the second signal holding capacitor hold the readout reset signal and renders the second switch element and the first switch element the non-conductive state,

renders the external connection switch element the conductive state for the predetermined period to transfer the charge in the first signal holding capacitor to the external capacitor and perform the first charge recycle,

when reading the readout signal as the pixel signal, holds the second switch element of the signal holding part in the non-conductive state, makes the first switch element conductive to make the first signal holding capacitor hold the readout signal, and renders the first switch element the non-conductive state,

in a state where the first switch element and the second switch element are held in the non-conductive state, outputs a conversion signal corresponding to the reset readout signal held in the second signal holding capacitor to the second signal line,

in a state where the first switch element is held in the non-conductive state and the second switch element is held in the conductive state, outputs a conversion signal corresponding to a composite signal of the reset readout signal held in the second signal holding capacitor and the readout signal held in the first signal holding capacitor to the second signal line, and,

in a state where the first switch element is held in the non-conductive state and the second switch element is held in the conductive state, makes the external connection switch element conductive in the predetermined period and transfers the charges in the first signal holding capacitor and the second signal holding capacitor to the external capacitor thereby performing the second charge recycle.

16. The solid-state imaging device as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

a signal holding part includes a third switch element which selectively connects the first holding node and a predetermined reference potential in the second period, and

the readout portion,

before reading the reset readout signal, holds the second switch element and the third switch element in the conductive state and removes residual charges of the first signal holding capacitor and the second signal holding capacitor, and,

before reading the readout signal after the first charge recycle processing, holds the third switch element in the conductive state and removes the residual charge in the first signal holding capacitor.

17. A method for driving a solid-state imaging device having

a pixel portion which are arranged first pixels including photoelectric conversion reading parts and signal holding parts and second pixels including photoelectric conversion reading parts,

a readout portion for reading pixel signals from the pixel portion,

a first signal line to which readout signals of the photoelectric conversion reading parts are output, and

a second signal line to which held signals of the signal holding parts are output, wherein

a photoelectric conversion reading part of at least the first pixels includes

an output node,

a photoelectric conversion element which accumulates a charge generated by photoelectric conversion in an accumulation period,

a transfer element capable of transferring the charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element in a transfer period,

a floating diffusion to which the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element is transferred through the transfer element,

a source follower element which converts the charge of the floating diffusion to a voltage signal corresponding to the charge amount and outputs the converted signal to the output node,

a reset element which resets the floating diffusion to the predetermined potential in a reset period, and

a selection element which electrically connects the output node with the first signal line in a first period,

the signal holding part includes

a signal holding capacitor capable of holding a signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixels,

a switch element which selectively connects the signal holding capacitor with the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part in a second period, and

an output part including a source follower element which outputs a signal held in the signal holding capacitor in accordance with a held voltage in the second period and selectively outputting the converted signal to the second signal line, and

the pixel portion includes

a first pixel array in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels are arranged in a matrix,

a holding part array in which the plurality of signal holding parts of the first pixels are arranged in a matrix, and

a second pixel array in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of the second pixels are arranged in a matrix,

the method for driving a solid-state imaging device comprising

making the first pixel array of the first pixels and the second pixel array of the second pixels active and reading the pixel signals at the time of a first operation and

rendering the selection elements in the photoelectric conversion reading parts in the first pixels and in the second pixels non-selection states, then making the first pixel array of the first pixels and the holding part array active and reading the pixel signals at the time of a second operation.

18. An electronic apparatus comprising

a solid-state imaging device and

an optical system forming a subject image in the solid-state imaging device, wherein

the solid-state imaging device has

a pixel portion which are arranged at least first pixels including photoelectric conversion reading parts and signal holding parts and second pixels including photoelectric conversion reading parts,

a readout portion for reading pixel signals from the pixel portion,

a first signal line to which readout signals of the photoelectric conversion reading parts are output, and

a second signal line to which held signals of the signal holding parts are output,

a photoelectric conversion reading part of at least the first pixels includes

an output node,

a photoelectric conversion element which accumulates a charge generated by photoelectric conversion in an accumulation period,

a transfer element capable of transferring the charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element in a transfer period,

a floating diffusion to which the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element is transferred through the transfer element,

a source follower element which converts the charge of the floating diffusion to a voltage signal corresponding to the charge amount and outputs the converted signal to the output node,

a reset element which resets the floating diffusion to the predetermined potential in a reset period, and

a selection element which electrically connects the output node with the first signal line in a first period, and

the signal holding part includes

a signal holding capacitor capable of holding a signal output from the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part of the first pixels,

a switch element which selectively connects the signal holding capacitor with the output node of the photoelectric conversion reading part in a second period, and

an output part including a source follower element which outputs a signal held in the signal holding capacitor in accordance with a held voltage in the second period and selectively outputting the converted signal to the second signal line, and wherein

the pixel portion includes at least

a first pixel array in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of the first pixels are arranged in a matrix,

a second pixel array in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion reading parts of the second pixels are arranged in a matrix, and

a holding part array in which the plurality of signal holding parts of the first pixels are arranged in a matrix, and wherein

the photoelectric conversion reading part of the second pixels includes

a photoelectric conversion element which accumulates a charge generated by photoelectric conversion in an accumulation period,

a transfer element capable of transferring the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element in a transfer period,

a floating diffusion to which the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element is transferred through the transfer element,

a source follower element which converts the charge in the floating diffusion to a voltage signal corresponding to a charge amount

a reset element which resets the floating diffusion to a predetermined potential in a reset period, and

a selection element which electrically connects the output line of the voltage signal from the source follower element with the first signal line in the first period.