Patent ID: 9270894
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: H01L,H04N

Claim Text:
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a solid-state imaging device in which pixels are arranged in a matrix above a substrate, each pixel including (i) a photoelectric conversion unit which performs photoelectric conversion of incident light into signal charge and (ii) a reset unit which resets charge stored in the photoelectric conversion unit; a mechanical shutter for causing all of the pixels to be shielded or exposed at a same time; and a timing control unit configured to control timing for opening and closing the mechanical shutter, applying a voltage to the photoelectric conversion unit, and a reset by the reset unit, wherein the timing control unit is configured to: when a mode for monitoring an image is switched to a mode for capturing a still image, reset the charge stored in all of the pixels by closing the mechanical shutter and applying, to the photoelectric conversion unit, a disabling voltage for disabling movement of the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; and when a plurality of still images are to be captured sequentially: (1) (i) start first exposure by opening the mechanical shutter and applying, to the photoelectric conversion unit, an enabling voltage for enabling movement of the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, (ii) finish the first exposure by applying, to the photoelectric conversion unit, a disabling voltage for disabling movement of the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, with the mechanical shutter open, (iii) obtain a first still image by reading pixel signals from the pixels, and (iv) cause the reset unit to reset the charge stored in all of the pixels; and (2) (i) start second exposure by applying, to the photoelectric conversion unit, an enabling voltage for enabling movement of the signal charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, with the mechanical shutter open and (ii) finish the second exposure by applying, to the photoelectric conversion unit, a disabling voltage for disabling movement of the signal charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, with the mechanical shutter open, and (iii) obtain a second still image by reading pixel signals from the pixels.