Patent ID: 8730345
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A driving method of a solid-state imaging apparatus including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element for converting light into electric carriers, a transfer gate for transferring the electric carriers to a floating node, a first transistor for amplifying a signal based on a voltage of the floating node and for outputting the amplified signal to a respective column signal line, and a second transistor for resetting the voltage of the floating node, the driving method comprising steps of: reading out an image signal from the pixels in the matrix, during a frame period, by sequentially scrolling through, within the pixels in the matrix, a front curtain row, in which the photoelectric conversion elements and the floating nodes are reset, a flicker detection row, in which signals for detecting flickers are read out, and a rear curtain row, in which light signals in the photoelectric conversion elements are read out; combining signals from the column signal lines based on the voltage of the floating node extending over regions of the plurality of pixels, during a period of maintaining the transfer gates at a non-conductive state, after resetting of the voltage of the floating nodes by the second transistors; and outputting a signal based on the combined signals from the column signal lines, for detecting a flicker of an imaging light source.