JP2004159033A - Solid state image pickup device and its drive method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that transfer directions are fixed in right and left directions when binary phase drive is executed in the case of adopting a constitution capable of transferring a horizontal transfer part in both the right and left directions by making its intermediate part as a boundary. <P>SOLUTION: The horizontal transfer part 14 is set to be three-phase driven. And at the same time, the horizontal transfer part 14 is divided into the left transfer and the right transfer part by making its intermediate part as a boundary. A driving clock is individually supplied to each transfer electrode of the transfer parts 14R, 14L on both right and left sides. The phase of the driving clock supplied to each transfer electrode of the transfer parts 14R, 14L on both sides is properly changed. Accordingly, transfer directions of the horizontal transfer part 14 can be simply and freely set in both the right and left directions and only in the left direction or only in the right direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device and a driving method thereof, and more particularly to a solid-state imaging device having a pair of output amplifiers at both ends of a horizontal transfer unit and a driving method of the horizontal transfer unit in the solid-state imaging device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to improve the frame rate, in a conventional solid-state imaging device, an imaging region in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix is divided into two parts left and right, or four parts up, down, left, and right. The electric charge is transferred in both the left and right directions by one arranged horizontal transfer unit or two horizontal transfer units arranged on both upper and lower sides, and output signals are respectively output from a pair of output amplifiers provided at both ends of the horizontal transfer unit. A configuration that derives it is adopted (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Here, a specific configuration of a solid-state imaging device in which an imaging area is divided into two parts on the left and right will be described as an example.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 8, the solid-state imaging device divided into two parts, left and right, has an imaging region 103 in which unit pixels 101 are arranged in a matrix and a vertical transfer unit 102 is arranged in a column unit with respect to this pixel arrangement. The central part is divided into two parts left and right, and the horizontal transfer part 104 is further divided into two parts left and right with the middle part as a boundary. The left and right output amplifiers 105L and 105R provided at both ends of the horizontal transfer part 104 It is configured to derive output signals respectively.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-22667 (particularly, paragraph 0024, paragraph 0025 and paragraph 0027, and FIG. 4)
[0006]
By the way, since the horizontal transfer unit needs to transfer charges at a higher speed than the vertical transfer unit, two-phase driving using two-phase driving clocks Hφ1 and Hφ2 opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 9 is performed. Is common. In the case of the two-phase drive, as is well known, the transfer direction is not determined only by applying the two-phase drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ2 to the transfer electrodes of the two layers of the horizontal transfer unit 104.
[0007]
Therefore, in the horizontal transfer section 104, for example, the left and right transfer directions are determined by injecting ions under one of the transfer electrodes different between the left and right transfer portions 104L and 104R to give a potential gradient. By applying the two-phase drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ2 to the transfer electrodes different between the left and right transfer portions 104L and 104R with respect to the horizontal transfer portion 104, the transfer in the left and right direction by the transfer portions 104L and 104R is realized. are doing. FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the structure of the horizontal transfer unit 104 and potential.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the solid-state imaging device according to the related art has a configuration in which the transfer direction is fixed in the horizontal direction by the two-phase drive of the horizontal transfer unit 104, so that the frame rate is reduced to reduce power consumption. Even when it is desired to suppress the power consumption, there is a problem that the power consumption can be reduced only by the reduction in the power consumption due to the reduction in the driving frequency of the driving driver of the horizontal transfer unit 104. Also, when trying to obtain a mirror image, it is necessary to provide a line memory or a frame memory in a signal processing system at the subsequent stage and exchange signals at the signal processing stage, so that the number of parts increases and cost increases. There was also a problem.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object thereof is that the transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit is not limited to both the left and right directions, and can be easily and freely set only in the left direction and only in the right direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state imaging device and a driving method of a horizontal transfer unit in the solid-state imaging device.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an imaging region in which pixels for performing photoelectric conversion are arranged, a horizontal transfer unit that horizontally transfers electric charges transferred from the imaging region by a three-phase or more driving method, In a solid-state imaging device including a pair of output amplifiers that are provided at both ends of the horizontal transfer unit and convert electric charges transferred by the horizontal transfer unit into electric signals and output the electric signals, a solid state imaging device includes a pair of output amplifiers. The drive clocks of three or more phases are separately supplied to the transfer electrodes of the transfer portions on both sides thereof, and the phases of the drive clocks supplied to the transfer electrodes of the transfer portions on both sides are switched according to the transfer mode. To
[0011]
In a solid-state imaging device having a pair of output amplifiers at both ends of the horizontal transfer unit, the driving method of the horizontal transfer unit is set to three-phase drive or more, so that the phase of the drive clock applied to each transfer electrode of the horizontal transfer unit is changed. The transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit is determined only by setting the relationship. Therefore, the horizontal transfer section is divided into a transfer section on the left side and a transfer section on the right side with the middle section as a boundary, and a drive clock is separately supplied to each transfer electrode of the transfer sections on the left and right sides. The transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit can be simply and freely set to only the left and right directions, only the left direction, or only the right direction by appropriately changing the phase of the drive clock supplied to each transfer electrode of the transfer part.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) area sensor is used as the solid-state imaging device.
[0013]
As is apparent from FIG. 1, the CCD area sensor 10 includes an imaging area 13 having unit pixels 11 arranged in a matrix and a vertical transfer unit 12 composed of CCDs arranged in pixel columns with respect to the pixel arrangement. A horizontal transfer unit 14 composed of a CCD arranged only on one side in the vertical direction with respect to the imaging area 13 and a pair of left and right output amplifiers 15L and 15R provided at both ends of the horizontal transfer unit 14. It is provided with a configuration.
[0014]
The unit pixel 11 is formed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode, and photoelectrically converts incident light into a signal charge having a charge amount corresponding to the amount of light and stores the signal charge. The vertical transfer unit 12 vertically transfers the signal charges read from the unit pixels 11 on a column basis, and shifts (transfers) the signal charges to the horizontal transfer unit 14 on a row basis. The horizontal transfer unit 14 transfers the signal charges transferred from the imaging region 13 by a three-phase or more driving method (in this example, a three-phase driving method) in both left and right directions with an intermediate portion as a boundary, as described later, or Horizontal transfer only to the left or only to the right.
[0015]
The pair of left and right output amplifiers 15L and 15R are configured by, for example, a floating diffusion and a source follower circuit. These output amplifiers 15L, 15R are horizontally transferred by the horizontal transfer unit 14 in both the left and right directions, or only in the left direction or only in the right direction, and detect signal charges injected through a final output gate (not shown). Then, the detected signal charges are converted into electric signals, for example, signal voltages, and are derived as CCD outputs Out-L and Out-R.
[0016]
Next, the configuration of the horizontal transfer unit 14 capable of performing horizontal transfer in both the left and right directions will be specifically described. Here, since the case of three-phase driving is taken as an example, the driving of the horizontal transfer unit 14 uses three-phase driving clocks Hφ1, Hφ2, and Hφ3 having a phase relationship shown in FIG. In the timing chart of FIG. 2, while the drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ3 are both at the “L” level and the drive clock Hφ2 is at the “H” level, signal charges are transferred (shifted) from the vertical transfer unit 13 to the horizontal transfer unit 14. Transfer period.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal transfer unit 14 is repeatedly arranged on a semiconductor substrate 20 via an insulating film (not shown) in units of three transfer electrodes a, b, and c corresponding to three-phase driving. Electrode structure. Then, in order to enable horizontal transfer in both the left and right directions, the arrangement order of the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c is left-right symmetric with respect to the middle part (dotted line in the figure) as a boundary, so that (Hereinafter referred to as a "left-side transfer unit") 14L and a right-side transfer unit (hereinafter referred to as a "right-side transfer unit") 14R.
[0018]
In the left transfer section 14L, three-phase drive clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, and Hφ3L are transmitted via three terminals L1, L2, and L3 of the first terminal group 16L as three unit transfer electrodes a, b, and c. It is applied every time. Similarly, the three-phase drive clocks Hφ1R, Hφ2R, and Hφ3R are also transmitted to the right transfer unit 14R via the three terminals R1, R2, and R3 of the second terminal group 16R. It is applied for each of b and c.
[0019]
In FIG. 1 again, the three-phase driving clocks Hφ1, Hφ2, Hφ3 are generated by the timing generator 17, and the switching circuit 18 drives the driving clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, Hφ3L for the left transfer section 14L and the driving clock for the right transfer section 14R. After being switched to the clocks Hφ1R, Hφ2R, and Hφ3R, the clocks are supplied to the terminals L1, L2, L3 of the first terminal group 16L and the terminals R1, R2, R3 of the second terminal group 16R via the clock driver 19, respectively. Is done.
[0020]
That is, the timing generator 17, the switching circuit 18, and the clock driver 19 perform three-phase operation with respect to the terminals L1, L2, L3 of the first terminal group 16L and the terminals R1, R2, R3 of the second terminal group 16R. Drive clock supply means for separately supplying the drive clocks Hφ1, Hφ2, and Hφ3.
[0021]
In the driving clock supply means, the switching circuit 18 is provided for switching the transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit 14 to both the left and right directions, only the left direction, or only the right direction. The phases of the three-phase driving clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, and Hφ3L supplied to the terminals L1, L2, and L3 and the phases of the three-phase driving clocks Hφ1R, Hφ2R, and Hφ3R supplied to the terminals R1, R2, and R3 of the second terminal group 16R. The switching operation is performed only in the left and right directions and only in the left direction in accordance with each transfer mode in the right direction.
[0022]
Subsequently, a specific switching operation of the switching circuit 18 will be described. Note that among the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c, the middle transfer electrode b does not need to change phases even when the transfer direction is reversed, so the second-phase drive pulse Hφ2L applied to the transfer electrode b , Hφ2R are fixed regardless of the transfer direction.
[0023]
The switching circuit 18 has two changeover switches SL1 and SL2 for the left transfer unit 14L and two changeover switches SR1 and SR2 for the right transfer unit 14R, as shown by the equivalent circuit in FIG. The changeover switches SL1 and SL2 take the switching position (1) shown by a solid line in the figure in each of the transfer modes in both the left and right directions and the left direction, and the switch shown in the figure by a dotted line in the transfer mode in only the right direction. Take position (2). On the other hand, the changeover switches SR1 and SR2 take the switching position (1) shown by a solid line in the figure in each of the transfer modes only in the left and right directions and the right direction, and are shown by dotted lines in the figure in the transfer mode only in the left direction. Take the indicated switching position (2).
[0024]
By the switching of the phases by the switching circuit 18, in the transfer mode in both the left and right directions, the three terminals L1, L2, L3 of the first terminal group 16L are connected to the left transfer section 14L as shown in FIG. Through this, three-phase driving clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, and Hφ3L are applied to each of the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c as a unit. Similarly, the three-phase drive clocks Hφ1R, Hφ2R, and Hφ3R are also transmitted to the right transfer unit 14R via the three terminals R1, R2, and R3 of the second terminal group 16R. , C.
[0025]
Here, as described above, the left transfer unit 14L and the right transfer unit 14R have an electrode structure in which the arrangement order of the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c is symmetric with respect to the boundary (dotted line in the figure). ing. Therefore, the drive clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, Hφ3L are applied to the transfer electrodes a, b, c, respectively, and the drive clocks Hφ1R, Hφ2R, Hφ3R are applied to the transfer electrodes a, b, c, respectively, whereby the left transfer unit 14L is driven. The transfer direction is the left direction in the figure, and the transfer direction of the right transfer unit 14R is the right direction in the figure.
[0026]
In the timing chart of FIG. 2, when both the first-phase and third-phase drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ3 are at “L” level and the second-phase drive clock Hφ2 is at “H” level, the vertical The signal charges are transferred (shifted) by one row (one line) from the transfer unit (vertical CCD) 12 to the horizontal transfer unit (horizontal CCD) 14. Thereafter, the signal charges in the left half of the imaging region 13 are transferred in the left direction in the figure by the left transfer unit 14L, and the signal charges in the right half are transferred in the right direction in the figure by the right transfer unit 14R.
[0027]
Next, in the transfer mode in the left direction, as shown in FIG. 5, the three terminals L1 and L3 of the first terminal group 16L are provided in the left transfer unit 14L in the same manner as in the transfer mode in the left and right directions. Three-phase drive clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, and Hφ3L are applied to the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c via L2 and L3. That is, the transfer direction of the left transfer unit 14L remains the same as in the left and right transfer modes in the left transfer direction.
[0028]
On the other hand, the three-phase drive clocks Hφ3R, Hφ2R, and Hφ1R are supplied to the right transfer unit 14R via the three terminals R1, R2, and R3 of the second terminal group 16R by switching the phases by the switching circuit 18. The voltage is applied to each of the transfer electrodes a, b, and c. That is, in the right transfer unit 14R, the drive clock Hφ1R of the first phase and the drive clock Hφ3R of the third phase are switched. In other words, the phase of the drive clock is switched between the transfer electrodes a and c. As a result, the transfer direction of the right transfer unit 14R is leftward, which is opposite to that in the transfer mode in both right and left directions.
[0029]
In the timing chart of FIG. 2, when both the first-phase and third-phase drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ3 are at “L” level and the second-phase drive clock Hφ2 is at “H” level, the vertical The signal charges are transferred from the transfer unit 12 to the horizontal transfer unit 14 by one line. Thereafter, the signal charges in both the left and right regions of the imaging region 13 are both transferred in the left direction in the figure by the left transfer unit 14L and the right transfer unit 14R.
[0030]
In the transfer mode in the right direction, as shown in FIG. 6, the left transfer unit 14L is switched via the three terminals L1, L2, and L3 of the first terminal group 16L by the switching of the phase by the switching circuit 18. Thus, three-phase drive clocks Hφ3L, Hφ2L, and Hφ1L are applied to each of the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c. That is, in the left transfer unit 14L, the drive clock Hφ1R of the first phase and the drive clock Hφ3R of the third phase are switched, in other words, the phase of the drive clock is switched between the transfer electrodes a and c. As a result, the transfer direction of the left transfer unit 14L is rightward, which is opposite to that in the transfer mode in both the left and right directions.
[0031]
On the other hand, the three-phase drive clocks Hφ3R, Hφ2R, and Hφ1R are supplied to the right transfer unit 14R via the three terminals R1, R2, and R3 of the second terminal group 16R, as in the case of the transfer mode in both the left and right directions. The voltage is applied to each of the three transfer electrodes a, b, and c. Thus, the transfer direction of the right transfer unit 14R is the same right direction as in the transfer mode in both the left and right directions.
[0032]
In the timing chart of FIG. 2, when both the first-phase and third-phase drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ3 are at “L” level and the second-phase drive clock Hφ2 is at “H” level, the vertical The signal charges are transferred from the transfer unit 12 to the horizontal transfer unit 14 by one line. Thereafter, the signal charges in both the left and right regions of the imaging region 13 are both transferred in the right direction in the figure by the left transfer unit 14L and the right transfer unit 14R.
[0033]
In the transfer mode of only the left direction or the right direction, that is, the transfer mode of one-sided output, the output amplifier 15L / 15R on the non-output side is in the unused state, and the output on the non-output side is not used. Regarding the amplifier, the operation of the output amplifier may be stopped by, for example, shutting off the operating power supply of the source follower or increasing the resistance value of the resistor connected to the ground side. The power consumption can be reduced by the power consumption.
[0034]
As described above, by setting the horizontal transfer unit 14 to three-phase driving or more, it is only necessary to set the phase relationship among the three-phase drive clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, Hφ3L applied to each transfer electrode of the horizontal transfer unit 14, for example. Focusing on the fact that the transfer direction of the horizontal transfer section 14 can be determined, the horizontal transfer section 14 is divided into a left transfer section and a right transfer section with an intermediate section as a boundary, and the transfer sections 14L and 14R on both the left and right sides are divided. The drive clock is separately supplied to each transfer electrode, and the phase of the drive clock supplied to each transfer electrode of the transfer units 14L and 14R on both sides of the drive electrode is appropriately changed, so that the transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit 14 is changed to the left and right. It can be set easily and freely in both directions, left only or right only.
[0035]
Thus, by selecting the transfer mode in both the left and right directions, when the driving frequency of the horizontal transfer unit 14, that is, the driving clocks Hφ1L, Hφ2L, and Hφ3L are the same, the signal charges for one field are transferred to one-side output. Since the output can be performed in half the time as compared with the mode, the frame rate can be doubled. On the other hand, if it is desired to reduce the driving frequency of the horizontal transfer unit 14 to suppress power consumption, the transfer mode of one-side output is selected, and the operation of the output amplifier on the non-output side is stopped, thereby reducing the driving frequency. In addition to the reduction in power consumption due to the reduction, it is possible to reduce power consumption by the original power consumption of the output amplifier whose operation is stopped.
[0036]
Further, for example, if it is assumed that a normal image output can be obtained by the transfer mode in the left direction, a mirror image output can be easily obtained by selecting the transfer mode in the right direction. Since it is not necessary to provide a line memory or a frame memory and perform processing such as exchanging signals at the signal processing stage, it is possible to obtain a mirror image without increasing costs due to an increase in the number of parts. become.
[0037]
In the above embodiment, the case where the horizontal transfer unit 14 is driven in three phases has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that a four-phase or more drive method may be used. .
[0038]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the imaging region 13 is divided into two parts on the left and right, and the invention is applied to a solid-state imaging device in which the horizontal transfer unit 14 is arranged on only one side of the imaging region 13 at the top and bottom. As shown in FIG. 7, the present invention is also applicable to a solid-state imaging device in which the imaging area 13 is divided into four parts in the upper, lower, left, and right directions, and horizontal transfer units 14U and 14D are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the imaging area 13. In this case, the horizontal transfer units 14U and 14D may have exactly the same electrode structure.
[0039]
In the case of the four-divided solid-state imaging device, the upper left and right half signal charges are output from the left and right sides by the upper horizontal transfer unit 14U, and the lower left and right half signal charges are output from the lower horizontal transfer unit. By outputting from both the left and right sides by 14D, the signal charge for one field can be output in one-fourth of the time when outputting from one side in the upper and lower sides and one side from the left and right sides. Therefore, the frame rate is increased four times. Can be.
[0040]
In this four-part solid-state imaging device, the timing generator is commonly used in the upper and lower parts, and a drive clock supply unit for the lower horizontal transfer unit 14D, that is, a switching circuit 18D and a clock driver 19D are provided. If the clock driver 19 is used as it is, the switching circuit 18 and the clock driver 19 of FIG. 1 are also used as it is as the driving clock supply means for the upper horizontal transfer unit 14U, that is, the switching circuit 18U and the clock driver 19U. You can do it.
[0041]
Then, when it is desired to reduce the driving frequency of the horizontal transfer units 14U and 14D to suppress power consumption, the transfer mode of one-side output is selected for each of the horizontal transfer units 14U and 14D by switching phases by the switching circuits 18U and 18D. By stopping the operation of the output amplifiers (15LU / 15RU, 15LD / 15RD) on the side where the output is not performed, in addition to the reduction in the power consumption due to the reduction in the driving frequency, the operation of the output amplifier in which the operation is stopped is stopped. Power consumption can be reduced by the amount of power consumption.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the driving method of the horizontal transfer unit is set to three-phase driving or more, and the horizontal transfer unit is divided into a left transfer portion and a right transfer portion with an intermediate portion as a boundary, The drive clock is separately supplied to each of the transfer electrodes of the transfer portions on the left and right sides, and the phase of the drive clock supplied to each of the transfer electrodes of the transfer portions on both sides is appropriately changed, so that the transfer of the horizontal transfer portion is performed. The direction can be set easily and freely in both left and right directions, only the left direction or only the right direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing a phase relationship among three-phase drive clocks Hφ1, Hφ2, and Hφ3.
FIG. 3 is an electrode structure diagram illustrating a configuration example of a horizontal transfer unit in the solid-state imaging device according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a transfer mode in both right and left directions.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a leftward transfer mode.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a rightward transfer mode.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a solid-state imaging device according to a modified example of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional example of a solid-state imaging device.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing a phase relationship between two-phase drive clocks Hφ1 and Hφ2.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a structure of a horizontal transfer unit and a potential according to a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: CCD area sensor, 11: unit pixel, 12: vertical transfer unit, 13: imaging area, 14: horizontal transfer unit, 14L: left transfer unit, 14R: right transfer unit, 15L, 15R: output amplifier, 16L, 16R ... First and second electrode groups, 17 ... Timing generator, 18 ... Switching circuit, 19 ... Clock driver

Claims (6)

An imaging region in which pixels for performing photoelectric conversion are arranged;
A horizontal transfer unit that horizontally transfers the charge transferred from the imaging region by a three-phase or more driving method;
A pair of output amplifiers that are provided at both ends of the horizontal transfer unit and convert electric charges transferred by the horizontal transfer unit into electric signals and output the electric signals;
First and second terminal groups for applying a drive clock of three or more phases to each transfer electrode of the transfer part on both sides of the middle part of the horizontal transfer part,
The drive clock is separately supplied to each of the first and second terminal groups, and the phase of the drive clock supplied to each terminal of the first and second terminal groups is changed according to a transfer mode. A solid-state imaging device comprising: a driving clock supply unit for switching. 2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer mode is a transfer mode in which a transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit is one of a left-right direction, a left direction only, and a right direction only. 3. When the transfer mode is the left transfer mode, the operation of the right output amplifier of the pair of output amplifiers is stopped, and when the transfer mode is the right transfer mode, the left output of the pair of output amplifiers is stopped. 3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the operation of said output amplifier is stopped. An imaging region in which pixels for performing photoelectric conversion are arranged;
A horizontal transfer unit that horizontally transfers the charge transferred from the imaging region by a three-phase or more driving method;
A method for driving a solid-state imaging device, comprising: a pair of output amplifiers provided at both ends of the horizontal transfer unit and converting the electric charge transferred by the horizontal transfer unit into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal;
A three-phase or more drive clock is separately supplied to each transfer electrode of the transfer part on both sides of the middle part of the horizontal transfer part, and
A method of driving a solid-state imaging device, wherein the phases of the drive clock supplied to the transfer electrodes of the transfer portions on both sides are switched according to a transfer mode. 5. The driving method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the transfer mode is a transfer mode in which a transfer direction of the horizontal transfer unit is either a left-right direction, a left direction only, or a right direction only. When the transfer mode is the left transfer mode, the operation of the right output amplifier of the pair of output amplifiers is stopped, and when the transfer mode is the right transfer mode, the left output of the pair of output amplifiers is stopped. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the operation of the output amplifier is stopped.

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