Patent ID: 9018574
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A driving method of an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus comprises: a plurality of pixel units arranged in a matrix composed of a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of pixel units includes a first pixel unit and a second pixel unit arranged in different rows; a plurality of first output lines, each connected to the plurality of pixel units arranged in a corresponding column of the plurality of columns; a plurality of signal holding units configured to respectively hold signals of the plurality of first output lines; a plurality of read out units configured to read out, to a second output line, signals of the signal holding units; and a scanning circuit configured to control the plurality of read out units, wherein each of the plurality of pixel units has: a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions configured to generate a signal by a photoelectric conversion; an amplifying portion configured to amplify a signal from the photoelectric conversion portion and output an amplified signal to the first output line; a plurality of transfer portions configured to respectively transfer signals of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions to an input node of the amplifying portion; and a reset portion configured to selectively apply, to the input node, a selection reset voltage and a non-selection reset voltage, and wherein the driving method comprises: a first step of applying, by the reset portion of the first pixel unit, the selection reset voltage to the input node of the amplifying portion of the first pixel unit; after the first step, a second step of transferring a signal of one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions of the first pixel unit to the input node of the amplifying portion of the first pixel unit by corresponding one of the plurality of transfer portions of the first pixel unit, and of outputting an amplified signal to the first output line by the amplifying portion of the first pixel unit; after the second step, a third step of holding signals of the first output lines by the signal holding units; after the third step, a fourth step of sequentially reading out the signals of the holding units to the second output line by the plurality of read out units, wherein the scanning circuit controls the plurality of read out units sequentially; after the third step and before an end of the fourth step, a fifth step of applying the non-selection reset voltage to the input node of the amplifying portion of the first pixel unit by the reset portion of the first pixel unit, and of simultaneously applying the selection reset voltage to the input node of the amplifying portion of the second pixel unit by the reset portion of the second pixel unit; and after the fourth step, a sixth step of transferring a signal of one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions of the second pixel unit to the input node of the amplifying portion of the second pixel unit by corresponding one of the plurality of transfer portions of the second pixel unit, and of outputting an amplified signal to the first output line by the amplifying portion of the second pixel unit.