Solid-state imaging device, driving method thereof, and imaging apparatus

1. A solid-state imaging device comprising:

a plurality of pixel blocks arranged in a matrix, respective ones of the pixel blocks including a plurality of pixels configured to generate a charge corresponding to input light;

a control unit including a vertical scanning unit and a horizontal scanning unit, wherein the control unit is configured to sequentially scan respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks such that a scanning sequence of a respective pixel block is reversed in either the row direction or the column direction with respect to a scanning sequence of all directly adjacent pixel blocks; and

a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, respective ones of the analog-to-digital converters disposed corresponding to respective ones of the pixel blocks, wherein the control unit is configured to sequentially scan respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks at a timing such that adjacent pixels of the pixel blocks which are located on a boundary of adjacent pixel blocks are scanned simultaneously, wherein the scanning sequence of the respective pixel block is a pattern wherein scanning is started in a horizontal direction by setting a pixel located at a corner of the respective pixel block as a starting point, a row to be scanned is moved in the vertical direction sequentially, and a pixel located at an opposite corner of the respective pixel block is lastly scanned.

2. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 ;

an optical lens configured to condense light onto the solid-state imaging device;

a digital signal processor configured to process an output signal of the solid-state imaging device.

3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising an upper substrate including the plurality of pixel blocks and the control unit; and

a lower substrate including the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and a timing generation unit,

wherein the upper substrate and the lower substrate are bonded and connected to each other at corresponding portions.

4. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein respective ones of the pixels within the respective pixel block are arranged in a square submatrix.

5. A solid-state imaging device comprising:

a plurality of pixel blocks arranged in a matrix, respective ones of the pixel blocks including a plurality of pixels configured to generate a charge corresponding to input light;

a control unit including a vertical scanning unit and a horizontal scanning unit, wherein the control unit is configured to sequentially scan respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks such that a scanning sequence of a respective pixel block is reversed in either the row direction or the column direction with respect to a scanning sequence of all directly adjacent pixel blocks; and

a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, respective ones of the analog-to-digital converters disposed corresponding to respective ones of the pixel blocks, wherein the control unit is configured to sequentially scan respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks at a timing such that adjacent pixels of the pixel blocks which are located on a boundary of adjacent pixel blocks are scanned simultaneously, wherein the scanning sequence of the respective pixel block is a rectilinear spiral pattern beginning with a pixel located at a corner of the respective pixel block.

6. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 5 , further comprising an upper substrate including the plurality of pixel blocks and the control unit; and

a lower substrate including the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and a timing generation unit,

wherein the upper substrate and the lower substrate are bonded and connected to each other at corresponding portions.

7. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 5 , wherein respective ones of the pixels within the respective pixel block are arranged in a square submatrix.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the solid-state imaging device according to claim 5 ;

an optical lens configured to condense light onto the solid-state imaging device;

a digital signal processor configured to process an output signal of the solid-state imaging device.

9. A method of driving a solid-state imaging device comprising a plurality of pixel blocks arranged in a matrix, respective ones of the pixel blocks including a plurality of pixels configured to generate a charge corresponding to input light; a control unit including a vertical scanning unit and a horizontal scanning unit; and a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, respective ones of the analog-to-digital converters disposed corresponding to respective ones of the pixel blocks, the method comprising the steps of:

sequentially scanning respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks at a timing such that adjacent pixels of the pixel blocks which are located on a boundary of adjacent pixel blocks are scanned simultaneously; and

sequentially scanning respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks such that a scanning sequence of a respective pixel block is reversed in either the row direction or the column direction with respect to a scanning sequence of all directly adjacent pixel blocks, wherein the scanning sequence of the respective pixel block is a pattern wherein scanning is started in a horizontal direction by setting a pixel located at a corner of the respective pixel block as a starting point, a row to be scanned is moved in the vertical direction sequentially, and a pixel located at an opposite corner of the respective pixel block is lastly scanned.

10. The method of driving a solid-state imaging device according to claim 9 , further comprising an upper substrate including the plurality of pixel blocks and the control unit; and a lower substrate including the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and a timing generation unit, wherein the upper substrate and the lower substrate are bonded and connected to each other at corresponding portions.

11. The method of driving a solid-state imaging device according to claim 9 , wherein respective ones of the pixels within the respective pixel block are arranged in a square submatrix.

12. A method of driving a solid-state imaging device comprising a plurality of pixel blocks arranged in a matrix, respective ones of the pixel blocks including a plurality of pixels configured to generate a charge corresponding to input light; a control unit including a vertical scanning unit and a horizontal scanning unit; and a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, respective ones of the analog-to-digital converters disposed corresponding to respective ones of the pixel blocks, the method comprising the steps of:

sequentially scanning respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks at a timing such that adjacent pixels of the pixel blocks which are located on a boundary of adjacent pixel blocks are scanned simultaneously; and

sequentially scanning respective ones of the pixels of the pixel blocks such that a scanning sequence of a respective pixel block is reversed in either the row direction or the column direction with respect to a scanning sequence of all directly adjacent pixel blocks, wherein the scanning sequence of the respective pixel block is a rectilinear spiral pattern beginning with a pixel located at a corner of the respective pixel block.

13. The method of driving a solid-state imaging device according to claim 12 , further comprising an upper substrate including the plurality of pixel blocks and the control unit; and a lower substrate including the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and a timing generation unit, wherein the upper substrate and the lower substrate are bonded and connected to each other at corresponding portions.

14. The method of driving a solid-state imaging device according to claim 12 , wherein respective ones of the pixels within the respective pixel block are arranged in a square submatrix.