IP Library Granted Patent US 9,531,972
Granted Patent B2
US 9,531,972 · App. 14/593,702 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

Solid-state imaging device, method for driving the same, and imaging device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,531,972
App. No.
14/593,702
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

a CMOS image sensor including a pixel array unit having pixels arranged in even-numbered pixel rows and odd-numbered pixel rows. A reading operation performed such that a first signal of a first pixel group is read in a first accumulation time, and a second signal of a second pixel group is read in a second accumulation time shorter than said first accumulation time.

Claims (27)

1. An imaging device comprising:

a pixel array section configured to have a plurality of pixels; and

a pixel driving section configured to cause a first signal of a first pixel group to have a first optical charge accumulation time, and to cause a second signal of a second pixel group to have a second optical charge accumulation time,

wherein the second optical charge accumulation time is shorter than the first optical charge accumulation time, and wherein an optical charge reset, an accumulation of optical charge, and a subsequent reading of the accumulated optical charge for a pixel of the second pixel group adjacent to a pixel of the first pixel group occurs during the first optical charge accumulation time.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein pixels of the second pixel group are arranged in different rows of the pixel array section.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the pixel driving section causes a reading timing of the second pixel group to be different from a reading timing of the first pixel group.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a CMOS sensor.

5. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the pixel driving section causes the second signal of the second pixel group to be read before the first signal of the first pixel group to be read.

6. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the first signal of the first pixel group and the second signal of the second pixel group are read in a same frame.

7. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pixels has a photoelectric conversion element and a transfer transistor.

8. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein one of the pixels has a reset transistor element.

9. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein one of the pixels has an amplifying transistor element.

10. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the pixels of the first pixel group and the pixels of the second pixel group are arranged in first-numbered rows and second-numbered rows in the pixel array section, respectively.

11. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the pixel driving section generates at least one of a reset control pulse and a read control pulse.

12. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical charge reset, the accumulation of optical charge, and the subsequent reading of the accumulated optical charge for the pixel of the second pixel group adjacent to the pixel of the first pixel group terminates during the first accumulation time of optical charge for the first pixel.

13. An electronic apparatus comprising:

an imaging device including:

a pixel array section configured to have a plurality of pixels; and

a pixel driving section configured to cause a first signal of a first pixel group to have a first optical charge accumulation time, and to cause a second signal of a second pixel group to have a second optical charge accumulation time, wherein the second optical charge accumulation time is shorter than the first optical charge accumulation time, and wherein an optical charge reset, an accumulation of optical charge, and a subsequent reading of the accumulated optical charge for a pixel of the second pixel group adjacent to a pixel of the first pixel group occurs during the first optical charge accumulation time; and

at least one lens configured to form an image on the pixel array section.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein pixels of the first pixel group and pixels of the second pixel group are arranged in different rows of the pixel array section.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the pixel driving section causes a reading timing of the second pixel group to be different from a reading timing of the first pixel group.

16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the imaging device is a CMOS sensor.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the pixel driving section causes the second signal of the second pixel group to be read before the first signal of the first pixel group to be read.

18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first signal of the first pixel group and the second signal of the second pixel group are read in a same frame.

19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein one of the pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor element, a reset transistor element, and an amplifying transistor element and the pixel driving section generates at least one of a reset control pulse and a read control pulse.

20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the pixels of the first pixel group and the pixels of the second pixel group are arranged in first-numbered rows and second-numbered rows in the pixel array section, respectively.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE INCORRECT APPLICATION NUMBER 14/572221 AND REPLACE IT WITH 14/527221 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040815 FRAME: 0649. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 27, 2022
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058875/0887 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039635 FRAME 0495. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 5, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040815/0649 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 9, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039635/0495 →