Solid-state imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus system using the same

• US 20070285548A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Gomi, Yuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,859,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/533 by using differing integration times for different sensor regions

Abstract

A solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arrayed in two dimensions, each having a photoelectric conversion device, a means for resetting signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device, a memory means for retaining signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device, and a transfer means for transferring signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device to the memory means, the signal retained at the memory means being outputted as signal of the pixel, and further including: a global control means, the pixel section having a plurality of pixel regions divided in row direction, for concurrently effecting the reset operation and the transfer operation, respectively, with treating the divided pixel region as a unit; a vertical scanning means for controlling sequence in outputting signals of the pixels with treating the divided pixel region as a unit; and a first and a second horizontal read means for outputting signals of the pixels of two pixel regions in parallel with considering the divided pixel region as unit.

Claims

1. A solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arrayed in two dimensions, each having a photoelectric conversion device, a means for resetting signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device, a memory means for retaining signal accumulated at said photoelectric conversion device, and a transfer means for transferring signal accumulated at said photoelectric conversion device to said memory means, the signal retained at said memory means being outputted as signal of said pixel, said solid-state imaging apparatus comprising:

a global control means, said pixel section having a plurality of pixel regions divided in row direction, for concurrently effecting said reset operation and said transfer operation, respectively, with treating said divided pixel region as a unit;

a vertical scanning means for controlling sequence in outputting signals of said pixels with treating said divided pixel region as a unit; and

a first and a second horizontal read means for outputting signals of the pixels of two pixel regions in parallel with considering said divided pixel region as unit.

2. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after passage of a desired accumulation time from said reset operation with respect to all pixels of said pixel section concurrently effected by said global control means, said first horizontal read means outputs signals of all pixels of said pixel section obtained by concurrently effecting said transfer operation, and

wherein said second horizontal read means, with respect to an optional pixel region narrower than said pixel section selected from the plurality of said divided pixel regions, outputs signals of the pixels of the optional pixel region obtained as a result that said global control means respectively effects said reset operation and said transfer operation on regular interval.

3. An imaging apparatus system comprising:

the solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1;

an image forming means for visualizing signals of all pixels outputted from said first horizontal read means; and

a setting control means for effecting various setting within the apparatus concerning the next imaging based on signals outputted from said second horizontal read means.