Imager apparatus, driving method, and camera

Abstract

In an XY address type solid-state imager apparatus comprising a solid-state imager having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged, and horizontal and vertical scanning circuits to read signals of the pixels, the scanning circuits each have a progressive scanning circuit to progressively read pixel signals by a first scanning control signal, and an interlace scanning circuit to read pixel signals with an interlaced manner by a second scanning control signal different from the first scanning control signal, and arbitrarily carries out combining of progressive reading and interlace reading in one frame in accordance with a combination of the respective scanning control signals, and reads pixel signals.

1 . A solid-state imager apparatus comprising:
 a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixel cells respectively having functions of converting incident light into an electrical signal are arranged in a matrix; and   a pixel reset pulse outputting circuit which selectively performs a row unit resetting operation of resetting the pixel cells of the pixel portion in units of rows and a simultaneous resetting operation of simultaneously resetting the pixel cells of the pixel portion, in accordance with a state of signal lines selectively driven based on shooting a still image or a moving image.   
   
   
       2 . The solid-state imager apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vertical scanning circuit which scans rows to be read of the pixel portion;   an electronic shutter scanning circuit which determines a timing of an exposure operation of making light incident to each of the pixel cells; and   a multiplexer which outputs an output of the vertical scanning circuit or an output of the electronic shutter scanning circuit to the pixel portion,   wherein the pixel reset pulse outputting circuit is constructed by a part of the multiplexer.   
   
   
       3 . The solid-state imager apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pixel reset pulse outputting circuit is constructed by a MOS transistor of the same conductive type. 
   
   
       4 . The solid-state imager apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical shutter,
 wherein the pixels are simultaneously reset by the pixel reset pulse outputting circuit in a state in which the mechanical shutter is open, and reading signals from the pixels is performed in units of rows after the mechanical shutter is closed.   
   
   
       5 . A solid-state imager apparatus comprising:
 photoelectric conversion means for converting incident light into an electrical signal; and   a pixel reset pulse outputting means for selectively performing a row unit resetting operation of resetting pixel cells of the photoelectric conversion means in units of rows and for simultaneously resetting pixel cells of the photoelectric conversion means, in accordance with a state of signal lines selectively driven based on shooting a still image or a moving image.