Solid-state image pickup device having analog-digital converters configured to sum values of multiple pixels in the array and method for driving the same

• US 7,710,479 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Muramatsu, Yoshinori, Fukushima, Noriyuki, Nitta, Yoshikazu, Yasui, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M
• Application Number:
  US12/419,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20090190021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 348/297, 348/298, 348/299, 348/302, 348/308
• US Class Current: 348/302
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/1023 Offset correction H03M1/1019 takes precedence; removal of offset already present on the analogue input signal H03M1/1295
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/56 Input signal compared with linear ramp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/616 involving a correlated sampling function, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] or triple sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/767 Horizontal readout lines, multiplexers or registers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/772 comprising A/D, V/T, V/F, I/T or I/F converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/78 Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/1562 for selective scanning, e.g. windowing, zooming

Abstract

A CMOS image sensor includes column-parallel ADCs. Each of the ADCs includes a comparator and an up/down counter. With this configuration, digital values of pixels in a plurality of rows can be added without using additional circuits, such as an adder and a line memory device, and the frame rate can be increased while maintaining constant sensitivity.

Claims

1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising:

a pixel array unit including unit pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix pattern, each unit pixel including a photoelectric converter, and column signal lines corresponding to respective columns of the matrix pattern;

row scanning means for selectively controlling each unit pixel of the pixel array unit in units of rows;

analog-digital converting means for converting analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selectively-controlled by the row scanning means through the column signal lines to digital signals, adding the obtained digital signals among a plurality of unit pixels, and outputting the added digital signals;

column scanning means for controlling output of the digital signals added in the analog-digital converting means; and

an output line for transmitting the digital signals output from the analog-digital converting means under control by the column scanning means,

wherein the row scanning means comprises an address decoder which selectively controls each unit pixel of the pixel array unit in units of arbitrary rows.

2. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the analog-digital converting means converts analog signals output from the unit pixels in a plurality of rows selectively-controlled by the row scanning means to digital signals and adds the digital signals of the unit pixels in the same column among the plurality of rows.

3. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the analog-digital converting means adds the digital signals of the unit pixels in the same column among odd-numbered rows and among even-numbered rows independently from each other.

4. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the analog-digital converting means comprises a plurality of analog-digital converting means, the solid-state image pickup device further comprising:

selecting means for distributing analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selectively-controlled by the row scanning means through the column signal lines to the plurality of analog-digital converting means corresponding to the columns; and

adding means for adding the digital signals output from the plurality of analog-digital converting means.

5. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the analog-digital converting means comprises a plurality of analog-digital converting means corresponding to the column signal lines and the output line comprises a plurality of output lines so that the digital signals output from the plurality of analog-digital converting means are transmitted through the plurality of output lines, the solid-state image pickup device further comprising:

selecting means for distributing analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selectively-controlled by the row scanning means through the column signal lines to the plurality of analog-digital converting means corresponding to the respective column signal lines; and

adding means for adding the digital signals transmitted from the plurality of analog-digital converting means through the plurality of output lines.

6. A method for driving a solid-state image pickup device comprising a pixel array unit including unit pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix pattern, each unit pixel including a photoelectric converter, and column signal lines corresponding to respective columns of the matrix pattern and a plurality of analog-digital converting units, each analog-digital converting unit being connected to a respective column signal line, the unit pixels being selectively controlled in units of rows, and the method comprising:

converting analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control through the column signal lines to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units, adding the digital signals among a plurality of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units, and reading the added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units,

wherein each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein analog signals output from the unit pixels in a plurality of rows selected by the selective control are converted to digital signals and the digital signals of the unit pixels in the same column are added among the plurality of rows.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the digital signals of the unit pixels in the same column are added among odd-numbered rows and among even-numbered rows independently from each other.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the addition is performed among the unit pixels of a plurality of columns.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control through the column signal lines are distributed to a plurality of devices corresponding to the columns and are converted to digital signals, and the digital signals are added among the plurality of columns.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control through the column signal lines are converted to digital signals in the respective columns, and the digital signals are added among arbitrary pairs of plurality of columns.