Solid-state image pickup device and drive method thereof

• US 20060203113A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Umeda, Tomoyuki, Hirota, Katsuaki, Wada, Takamasa, Sato, Hiroki, Nakamura, Nobuo, Fujita, Hiroaki, Mabuchi, Keiji, Abe, Takashi, Nakajima, Ken, Funatsu, Eiichi, Satou, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/302
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/445 by skipping some contiguous pixels within the read portion of the array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/447 by preserving the colour pattern with or without loss of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

When pixels are simply skipped while keeping both an order of pixel information and a spatial positional relation the same as those in all-pixel readout, since a distance between pixels to be read out increases, the Nyquist frequency decreases and aliasing noise increases. A 5×5 pixel block is set as a unit pixel block and pieces of pixel information in first, third, and fifth columns of first, third, and fifth rows of a pixel arrangement are added and outputted as an output in an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block. Then, pieces of pixel information in sixth, eighth, and tenth columns of the first, the third, and the fifth rows of the pixel arrangement are added and outputted as an output in the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block. Subsequently, pieces of pixel information are added and outputted up to a last column or a column near the last column. Thereafter, pieces of pixel information in the first, the third, and the fifth columns of the sixth, the eighth, and the tenth rows of the pixel arrangement are added and outputted as an output in a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block. Subsequently, all arbitrary pixels are read out while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

Claims

1. A solid state imaging apparatus comprising:

an X-Y addressable solid state imaging apparatus in which pixels are arranged in a matrix shape and color filters having predetermined color coding are formed in the respective pixels; and

driving means that, in a process of pixel skipping to read out pixel information from the solid state imaging apparatus, with a pixel block consisting of plural pixels adjacent to one another in a row direction and a column direction set as a unit pixel block, reads out pixel information of a same color filter in the unit pixel block as pixel information for one pixel simulatively.

2. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving means adds pieces of pixel information of the same color filter in the unit pixel block and outputs the added pieces of pixel information.

3. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving means averages the added pieces of pixel information and outputs the averaged pieces of pixel information.

4. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving means adds the pieces of pixel information in the same color filter in the unit pixel block so as not to destroy a center of gravity of the unit pixel block and outputs the added pieces of pixel information.

5. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving means has a memory circuit unit for storing pixel information read out from the solid state imaging apparatus and outputs the pieces of pixel information of the same color filter in the unit pixel block stored in the memory circuit unit to a horizontal data line simultaneously.

6. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, the driving means reads out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid without overlapping one another.

7. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the driving means reads out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in a column arrangement direction or a row arrangement direction in the unit pixel block simulatively as pixel information for one pixel.

8. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the predetermined color coding has four rows and four columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, the driving means reads out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid overlapping one another.

9. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, in a process of compressing an amount of pixel information at a ratio of 1/(k+2)×

(k+2), the driving means skips and adds (k+2)×

(k+2) pixels in a state in which the unit pixel blocks to be skipped and added are laid overlapping one another.

10. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+2)×

(2k+2) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, the driving means reads out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid overlapping one another.

11. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, the driving means reads out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid overlapping one another.

12. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the driving means has first and second memory circuits, which are capable of storing pixel information for one row, respectively, with respect to a pixel arrangement of the solid state imaging apparatus, as the memory circuit unit and outputs the pieces of pixel information of the same color filter in the unit pixel block stored in the first and the second memory circuits, respectively, to the horizontal data line simultaneously.

13. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, the driving means reads out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid without overlapping one another.

14. A solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, in a process of compressing an amount of pixel information at a ratio of 1/(2k+3)×

(2k+3), the driving means skips and adds 2k+6 pixels in a state in which the unit pixel blocks to be skipped and added are laid overlapping one another.

15. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus using an X-Y addressable solid state imaging apparatus in which pixels are arranged in a matrix shape and color filters having predetermined color coding are formed in the respective pixels, the driving method comprising:

in a process of pixel skipping to read out pixel information from the solid state imaging apparatus, with a pixel block consisting of plural pixels adjacent to one another in a row direction and a column direction set as a unit pixel block, reading out pixel information of a same color filter in the unit pixel block as pixel information for one pixel simulatively.

16. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

the driving method comprising:

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, reading out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid without overlapping one another.

17. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=0, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 3×

3 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first and third columns of first and third rows of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in fourth and sixth columns of the first and the third rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first and the third columns of fourth and sixth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

18. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=1, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 5×

5 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first, third, and fifth columns of first, third, and fifth rows of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in sixth, eighth, and tenth columns of the first, the third, and the fifth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first, the third, and the fifth columns of sixth, eighth, and tenth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

19. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=2, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 7×

7 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first, third, fifth, and seventh columns of first, third, fifth, and seventh rows of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in eighth, tenth, twelfth, and fourteenth columns of the first, the third, the fifth, and the seventh rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first, the third, the fifth, and the seventh columns of eighth, tenth, twelfth, and fourteenth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

20. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=3, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first and ninth columns of first and ninth rows, third and seventh columns of third and seventh rows, and a fifth column of a fifth row of a pixel arrangement as an output of a 9×

9 unit pixel block; and

reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation for the other unit pixel blocks and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

21. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=3, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first, fifth, and ninth columns of first and ninth rows and third and seventh columns of third and seventh rows of a pixel arrangement as an output of a 9×

9 unit pixel block; and

reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation for the other unit pixel blocks and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

22. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=0, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 3×

3 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first and third columns of a second row of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in fourth and sixth columns of the second row of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first and the third columns of a fifth row of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

23. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the predetermined color coding has four rows and four columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

the driving method comprising:

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, reading out pieces of pixel information of a same color filter in each of the unit pixel blocks simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid overlapping one another.

24. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

when k=0, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 3×

3 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in a first column of first and third rows and a third column of a second row of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in a sixth column of the first and the third rows and a fourth column of the second row of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first column of fourth and sixth rows and the third column of a fifth row of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the sixth column of the fourth and the sixth rows and the fourth column of the fifth row of the pixel arrangement as an output in the bth row and the bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

25. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

when k=0, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 3×

3 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in a first column of first and third rows and a third column of a second row of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in a fourth column of the first and the third rows and a sixth column of the second row of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first column of fourth and sixth rows and the third column of a fifth row of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the fourth column of the fourth and the sixth rows and the sixth column of the fifth row of the pixel arrangement as an output in the bth row and the bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

26. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

the driving method comprising:

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, in a process of compressing an amount of pixel information at a ratio of 1/(k+2)×

(k+2), skipping and adding (k+2)×

(k+2) pixels in a state in which the unit pixel blocks to be skipped and added are laid overlapping one another.

27. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

when k=0, executing processing for {starting, from m=0 and n=0, operation A of operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 4n+1st and 4n+3rd columns of 4m+1st and 4m+3rd rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation B of the operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 4n+2nd and 4n+4th columns of the 4m+1st and 4m+3rd rows, first, fixing m at 0 and, when a series of operation A and operation B end, incrementing n by 1 before shifting to the next operation A and operation B, and, subsequently, repeating the operation A and the operation B in the same manner alternately} up to a last column of the row or a column close to the last column;

next, executing processing for {starting, from m=0 and n=0, operation A of operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the 4n+1st and the 4n+3rd columns of 4m+2nd and 4m+4th rows and operation B of the operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the 4n+2nd and the 4n+4th columns of the 4m+2nd and 4m+4th rows, fist, fixing m at 0 and, when a series of operation A and operation B end, incrementing n by 1 before shifting to the next operation A and operation B, and, subsequently, repeating the operation A and the operation B in the same manner alternately} up to a last column of the row or a column near the last column; and

thereafter, incrementing a value of m by 1 and performing the operation <

1> and

the operation <

2>

in the same manner and, until all pieces of pixel information set to be read out are read out, with a pair of the operation <

1> and

the operation <

2>

as a basic operation, incrementing a value of m by 1 every time the basic operation is performed one cycle.

28. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

when k=1, with a pair of {operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 6n+1st, 6n+3rd, and 6n+5th columns of 3m+1st, 3m+3rd, and 3m+5th rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 6n+4th, 6n+6th, and 6n+8th columns of the 3m+1st, the 3m+3rd, and the 3m+5th rows} as a basic operation, starting the basic operation from m=0 and n=0, first, fixing m at 0, and incrementing n by one every time the basic operation is performed; and

when pixels to be read reach a last column or a column near the last column, incrementing m by 1, setting n to 0, and, subsequently, repeatedly executing the operation in the same manner until all pieces of the set pixel information are read out.

29. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

when k=2, executing processing for {performing, with a value of m fixed, operation A of operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 8n+1st, 8n+3rd, 8n+5th, and 8n+7th columns of 8m+1st, 8m+3rd, 8m+5th, and 8m+7th rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation B of the operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 8n+4th, 8n+6th, 8n+8th, and 8n+10th columns of the 8m+1st, the 8m+3rd, the 8m+5th, and the 8m+7th rows and, when a series of operation A and operation B end, incrementing n by 1 before shifting to the next operation A and operation B, and, subsequently, repeating the operation A and the operation B in the same manner alternately} up to a last column of the row or a column close to the last column;

next, executing processing for {performing, with a value of m fixed, operation A of operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the 8n+1st, the 8n+3rd, the 8n+5th, and the 8n+7th columns of 8m+4th, 8m+6th, 8m+8th, and 8m+10th rows and operation B of the operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the 8n+4th, the 8n+6th, the 8n+8th, and the 8n+10th columns of the 8m+4th, the 8m+6th, the 8m+8th, and the 8m+10th rows and, when a series of operation A and operation B end, incrementing n by 1 before shifting to the next operation A and operation B, and, subsequently, repeating the operation A and the operation B in the same manner alternately} up to a last column of the row or a column near the last column; and

thereafter, incrementing a value of m by 1 and performing the operation <

1> and

the operation <

2>

in the same manner and, until all pieces of pixel information set to be read out are read out, with a pair of the operation <

1> and

the operation <

2>

as a basic operation, incrementing a value of m by 1 every time the basic operation is performed one cycle.

30. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

when k=3, with a pair of {operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 10n+1st, 10n+3rd, 10n+5th, 10n+7th, and 10n+9th columns of 5m+1st, 5m+3rd, 5m+5th, 5m+7th, and 5m+9th rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 10n+6th, 10n+8th, 10n+10th, 10n+12th, and 10n+14th columns of the 5m+1st, the 5m+3rd, the 5m+5th, the 5m+7th, and the 5m+9th rows} as a basic operation, starting the basic operation from m=0 and n=0, first, fixing m at 0, and incrementing n by one every time the basic operation is performed; and

when pixels to be read reach a last column or a column near the last column, incrementing m by 1, setting n to 0, and, subsequently, repeatedly executing the operation in the same manner until all pieces of the set pixel information are read out.

31. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

the driving method comprising:

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, with (2k+3)×

(2k+3) pixel blocks as unit pixel blocks, extracting pieces of pixel information of a same color filter as that of a left end pixel in each of the unit pixel blocks from arbitrary two pixel rows and reading out them simulatively as pixel information for one pixel in a state in which the unit pixel blocks are laid without overlapping one another.

32. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=1, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 5×

5 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first, third, and fifth columns of first and third, first and fifth, or third and fifth rows of a pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in sixth, eighth, and tenth columns of the first and the third, the first and the fifth, or the third and the fifth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first, the third, and the fifth columns of sixth and eighth, sixth and tenth, or eighth and tenth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

33. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

when k=1, attaching imaginary pixel row names a, b, and so on and imaginary pixel column names a, b, and so on to an arrangement of a 5×

5 unit pixel block, respectively;

adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in first, third, and fifth columns of second and fourth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of an ath row and an ath column of the unit pixel block, then, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in sixth, eighth, and tenth columns of the second and the fourth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of the ath row and a bth column of the unit pixel block, and, subsequently, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information up to a last column or a column close to the last column in the same manner; and

thereafter, adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the first, the third, and the fifth columns of seventh and ninth rows of the pixel arrangement as an output of a bth row and the ath column of the unit pixel block and, subsequently, reading out all arbitrary pixels while repeating the same operation and skipping and adding pieces of pixel information.

34. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the predetermined color coding has two rows and two columns as a unit and is repetition of the unit, and

the driving method comprising:

when k is a positive integer equal to or larger than 0, in a process of compressing an amount of pixel information at a ratio of 1/(2k+3)×

(2k+3), skipping and adding 2k+6 pixels in a state in which the unit pixel blocks to be skipped and added are laid overlapping one another.

35. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

when k=0, with a pair of {operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 6n+1st, 6n+3rd, and 6n+5th columns of 3m+1st and 3m+3rd rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 6n+4th, 6n+6th, and 6n+8th columns of the 3m+1st and the 3m+3rd rows} as a basic operation, starting the basic operation from m=0 and n=0, first, fixing m at 0, and incrementing n by one every time the basic operation is performed; and

when pixels to be read reach a last column or a column near the last column of the pixel arrangement, incrementing m by 1, setting n to 0, subsequently, repeatedly executing the same operation, and reading out all pixels while skipping the pixels in a state in which all the pixels are added in a pixel row to be added.

36. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

when k=0, with a pair of {operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 6n+1st, 6n+3rd, and 6n+5th columns of 3m+1st and 3m+5th rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 6n+4th, 6n+6th, and 6n+8th columns of the 3m+1st and the 3m+5th rows) as a basic operation, starting the basic operation from m=0 and n=0, first, fixing m at 0, and incrementing n by one every time the basic operation is performed; and

when pixels to be read reach a last column or a column near the last column of the pixel arrangement, incrementing m by 1, setting n to 0, subsequently, repeatedly executing the same operation, and reading out all pixels while skipping the pixels in a state in which all the pixels are added in a pixel row to be added.

37. A driving method for a solid state imaging apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

when k=1, executing processing for {performing, with a value of m fixed, operation A of operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 8n+1st, 8n+3rd, 8n+5th, and 8n+7th columns of 8m+1st and 8m+3rd rows (m and n are positive integers equal to or larger than

     0) and operation B of the operation <

1>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in 8n+4th, 8n+6th, 8n+8th, and 8n+10th columns of the 8m+1st and the 8m+3rd rows and, when a series of operation A and operation B end, incrementing n by 1 before shifting to the next operation A and operation B, and, subsequently, repeating the operation A and the operation B in the same manner alternately} up to a last column of the row or a column close to the last column;

next, executing processing for {performing, with a value of m fixed, operation A of operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the 8n+1st, the 8n+3rd, the 8n+5th, and the 8n+7th columns of 8m+4th and 8m+6th rows and operation B of the operation <

2>

for adding and outputting pieces of pixel information in the 8n+4th, the 8n+6th, the 8n+8th, and the 8n+10th columns of the 8m+4th and the 8m+6th rows and, when a series of operation A and operation B end, incrementing n by 1 before shifting to the next operation A and operation B, and, subsequently, repeating the operation A and the operation B in the same manner alternately} up to a last column of the row or a column near the last column; and

thereafter, incrementing a value of m by 1 and performing the operation <

1> and

the operation <

2>

in the same manner, and reading out all pixels while skipping the pixels in a state in which all the pixels are added in a pixel row to be added.