JP2022102594A - Imaging element and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging element capable of preventing reduction in quality of pixel signals.SOLUTION: An imaging element includes: first and second photoelectric conversion units for generating charges by photoelectrically converting light; an accumulation unit which accumulates the charges generated in the first or second photoelectric conversion unit; a first transfer unit which transfers the charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit; a second transfer unit which transfers the charges generated in the second photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit; a connection unit which can connect the accumulation unit to a supply unit which supplies a predetermined voltage; and a control unit which executes first control. The first control includes: causing the first transfer unit to connect the first photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit; after the connection unit connecting the accumulation unit to the supply unit, causing the first transfer unit to disconnect the first photoelectric conversion unit from the accumulation unit; causing the connection unit to disconnect the accumulation unit from the supply unit; and causing the second transfer unit to connect the second photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an image pickup device and an image pickup device.

Conventionally, a focus detection technique using a focus detection pixel has been known. Conventionally, there has been a demand for improving the accuracy of focus detection.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-263568

According to the first aspect, the image pickup device is generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically convert light to generate electric charges, and the first photoelectric conversion unit or the second photoelectric conversion unit. The storage unit that stores the charged charge, the first transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit to the storage unit, and the charge generated by the second photoelectric conversion unit are transferred to the storage unit. The second transfer unit, the connection unit capable of connecting the storage unit and the supply unit for supplying a predetermined voltage, and the first photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit are connected by the first transfer unit. After connecting the storage unit and the supply unit by the connection unit, the first photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit are disconnected by the first transfer unit, and the storage unit and the supply unit are connected by the connection unit. Is provided, and a control unit that performs first control for connecting the second photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit by the second transfer unit is provided.
According to the second aspect, the image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device according to the first aspect and a generation unit that generates image data based on a signal output from the image pickup device.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image pickup apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a part of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the operation example of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the operation example of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the operation example of the image pickup device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a part of the image pickup element which concerns on the modification.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a camera 1 which is an example of an image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment. The camera 1 includes a photographing optical system (imaging optical system) 2, an image pickup element 3, a control unit 4, a memory 5, a display unit 6, and an operation unit 7. The photographing optical system 2 has a plurality of lenses including a focus adjusting lens (focus lens) and an aperture diaphragm, and forms a subject image on the image pickup element 3. The photographing optical system 2 may be detachable from the camera 1.

The image pickup element 3 is an image pickup element such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor. The image pickup element 3 receives a light beam that has passed through the photographing optical system 2 and images a subject image formed by the photographing optical system 2. A plurality of pixels having a photoelectric conversion unit are arranged in a two-dimensional shape (row direction and column direction) in the image pickup device 3. The photoelectric conversion unit is composed of a photodiode (PD). The image pickup device 3 photoelectrically converts the received light to generate a signal, and outputs the generated signal to the control unit 4.

The image pickup device 3 has an image pickup pixel and an AF pixel (focus detection pixel). The image pickup pixel outputs a signal used for image generation. The AF pixel outputs a signal used for focus detection. As will be described later, the AF pixels are arranged by replacing them with a part of the image pickup pixels, and are arranged dispersed over almost the entire image pickup surface of the image pickup element 3. In the following description, when the term "pixel" is used, it means either one or both of the image pickup pixel and the AF pixel.

The memory 5 is a recording medium such as a memory card. Image data, a control program, and the like are recorded in the memory 5. The writing of data to the memory 5 and the reading of data from the memory 5 are controlled by the control unit 4. The display unit 6 displays an image based on the image data, information on shooting such as a shutter speed and an aperture value, a menu screen, and the like. The operation unit 7 includes various setting switches such as a release button, a power switch, and a switch for switching various modes, and outputs a signal based on each operation to the control unit 4.

The control unit 4 is composed of a processor such as a CPU, FPGA, and ASIC, and a memory such as ROM and RAM, and controls each unit of the camera 1 based on a control program. The control unit 4 includes an image pickup control unit 4a, an image data generation unit 4b, and a focus detection unit 4c.

The image pickup control unit 4a supplies a signal for controlling the image pickup element 3 to the image pickup element 3 to control the operation of the image pickup element 3. When the image pickup control unit 4a displays a through image (live view image) of the subject on the display unit 6 or when shooting a moving image, the image pickup element 3 repeatedly captures the subject image every frame of a predetermined cycle and signals. Is output. The image pickup control unit 4a performs so-called rolling shutter type read-out control in which the pixels of the image pickup element 3 are sequentially selected in row units and a signal is read out from the selected pixels.

The image pickup control unit 4a controls the image pickup element 3 to read out a signal from a row of pixels in which AF pixels are arranged (hereinafter referred to as an AF pixel row) and a row of pixels in which AF pixels are not arranged (hereinafter referred to as an AF pixel row). Hereinafter, the process of reading the signal from the image pickup pixel row) is performed separately. Further, the image pickup control unit 4a also performs a process of sequentially selecting the pixel lines and reading the signal of each pixel without separately reading the signal of the AF pixel line and reading the signal of the image pickup pixel line.

The image pickup control unit 4a separately reads out the signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row and reads out the signal of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row when displaying a through image on the display unit 6 or shooting a moving image, for example. Do it. Further, when taking a high-resolution still image, the image pickup control unit 4a does not separately read out the signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row and the signal of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row. The process of sequentially selecting rows and reading the signal is performed.

The image data generation unit 4b performs various image processing on the signal output from the image pickup pixel of the image pickup element 3 to generate image data (still image data, moving image data). The image processing includes image processing such as gradation conversion processing and color interpolation processing. The image data generation unit 4b may also generate image data by using a signal output from the AF pixel.

The focus detection unit 4c performs focus detection processing necessary for automatic focus adjustment (AF) of the photographing optical system 2. The focus detection unit 4c detects the in-focus position of the focus lens (the amount of movement of the focus lens to the in-focus position) for the image of the photographing optical system 2 to be in focus (imaging) on the image pickup surface of the image pickup element 3. do. The focus detection unit 4c calculates the defocus amount by the phase difference detection method using the first and second signals output from the pair of AF pixels (AF pixel pair) of the image sensor 3.

The focus detection unit 4c is based on the first signal generated by imaging the image of the first light flux passing through the first region of the ejection pupil of the photographing optical system 2 and the second light flux passing through the second region. The amount of image deviation is calculated by performing a correlation calculation with the second signal generated by imaging the image. The focus detection unit 4c converts this image shift amount into a defocus amount based on a predetermined conversion formula. The focus detection unit 4c calculates the amount of movement of the focus lens to the in-focus position based on the calculated defocus amount. Focus adjustment is automatically performed by driving the focus lens according to the amount of movement. In this way, the control unit 4 controls the position of the focus lens so that the image of the subject by the photographing optical system 2 is in focus on the image pickup element 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image pickup device according to the first embodiment. The image pickup element 3 includes a pixel unit (pixel region) 100 in which pixels are provided in a two-dimensional shape (row direction and column direction), a supply unit 30, a readout control unit 40, and a plurality of processing units 50 (processing unit 50a). It has a processing unit 50h). A plurality of image pickup pixels 10 and AF pixels 13 (13a, 13b) are arranged in the pixel unit 100 of the image pickup element 3. In FIG. 2, the pixel in the upper left corner is the image pickup pixel 10 (1,1) in the first row and the first column, and the pixel in the lower right corner is the image pickup pixel 10 (16, 8) in the 16th row and the eighth column. A total of 128 pixels in 8 rows and 8 columns are illustrated. The number and arrangement of pixels arranged in the image sensor 3 is not limited to the illustrated example.

The image pickup pixel 10 is provided with any one of three color filters (color filters) 41 having different spectral characteristics of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The image pickup pixel 10 includes a pixel (hereinafter referred to as an R pixel) having a color filter 41 having a spectral characteristic for dispersing light in the first wavelength region (red (R) light) among the incident light. A pixel (hereinafter referred to as G pixel) having a color filter 41 having a spectral characteristic for dispersing light in the second wavelength region (light of green (G)) among the emitted light, and a third of the incident light. A pixel having a color filter 41 having spectral characteristics for dispersing light in the wavelength range (light of blue (B)) (hereinafter referred to as B pixel) is included. The R pixel 10, the G pixel 10, and the B pixel 10 are arranged according to the Bayer arrangement.

The first AF pixel 13a and the second AF pixel 13b are arranged by being replaced with a part of the image pickup pixels 10 of R, G, and B arranged in Bayer as described above. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the first AF pixel 13a and the second AF pixel 13b have a spectral characteristic that separates the light in the second wavelength region (green (G) light) of the incident light. The color filter 41 is arranged. The color filters of the first and second AF pixels 13a and 13b are light in the first wavelength range (red (R) light) or light in the third wavelength range (blue (B)). It may be a color filter having a spectral characteristic for dispersing light). Further, the first and second AF pixels 13a and 13b may have a filter having a spectral characteristic that disperses the light in the first, second and third wavelength regions of the incident light. Alternatively, color filters may not be arranged on the first and second AF pixels 13a and 13b.

The first AF pixel 13a and the second AF pixel 13b each have a light-shielding unit 43 that shields a part of the light incident on the photoelectric conversion unit. The position of the light-shielding portion 43 is different between the first AF pixel 13a and the second AF pixel 13b. The light-shielding portions 43 of the first AF pixel 13a and the second AF pixel 13b are arranged so that light that has passed through different regions of the exit pupil of the photographing optical system 2 is incident on the photoelectric conversion portion. As a result, the photoelectric conversion unit of the first AF pixel 13a receives the light flux that has passed through the first region of the first and second regions of the exit pupil of the photographing optical system 2. The photoelectric conversion unit of the second AF pixel 13b receives the light flux that has passed through the second region of the first and second regions of the exit pupil of the photographing optical system 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image pickup element 3 includes a pixel group (first image pickup pixel row) 401 in which G pixels 10 and B pixels 10 are alternately arranged in the left-right direction, that is, in the row direction, and R pixels 10. It has a pixel group (second image pickup pixel row) 402 in which G pixels 10 and G pixels 10 are alternately arranged in the row direction. Further, the image pickup element 3 includes a pixel group (first AF pixel row) 403a in which the G pixel 10 and the first AF pixel 13a are alternately arranged in the row direction, and the G pixel 10 and the second AF pixel 13b. Has a pixel group (second AF pixel row) 403b in which and are alternately arranged in the row direction. A plurality of the first image pickup pixel row 401, the second image pickup pixel row 402, the first AF pixel row 403a, and the second AF pixel row 403b are arranged in the vertical direction, that is, in the column direction.

In the image pickup device 3, a vertical signal line 25 is provided for each of the plurality of pixels 10 arranged in the horizontal direction (row direction). It can be said that the vertical signal line 25 is provided for a pixel row which is a row of a plurality of pixels arranged in the vertical direction (column direction). A current source and a processing unit 50, which will be described later, are provided for each of the plurality of vertical signal lines 25 (vertical signal lines 25a to 25h in FIG. 2).

The supply unit 30 is controlled by the image pickup control unit 4a of the camera 1 to supply a predetermined voltage (potential) to each pixel. As will be described later, the supply unit 30 supplies the power supply voltage VDD to the image pickup pixel 10 and the AF pixel 13 via the supply unit 35 (see FIG. 3).

The read control unit 40 is composed of a plurality of circuits including a timing generator. The readout control unit 40 is controlled by the image pickup control unit 4a, and supplies signals such as a signal TX, a signal RST, and a signal SEL, which will be described later, to each pixel to control the operation of each pixel. The read control unit 40 supplies a signal to the gate of each transistor of the pixel, and turns the transistor on (connected state, conduction state, short-circuit state) or off state (disconnected state, non-conducting state, open state, cutoff state). And. The signal of each pixel is output to the vertical signal line 25 connected to the pixel.

The processing unit 50 includes an analog / digital conversion unit (AD conversion unit). The processing unit 50 converts a pixel signal, which is an analog signal input from each pixel via the vertical signal line 25, into a digital signal. The processing unit 50 may have an amplifier unit that amplifies the pixel signal input via the vertical signal line 25 with a predetermined gain (amplification factor). In this case, the processing unit 50 may convert the pixel signal amplified by the amplifier unit into a digital signal.

The processing unit 50 outputs a pixel signal converted into a digital signal to a signal processing unit (not shown). The signal processing unit performs signal processing such as correlation double sampling and processing for correcting the signal amount on the input pixel signal, and then outputs the processed signal to the control unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a part of the image pickup device according to the first embodiment. Each pixel (AF pixel 13, image pickup pixel 10) includes a photoelectric conversion unit 11 and a connection unit 12, respectively. Of the two pixels adjacent to each other in the column direction, one pixel (AF pixel 13) has a photoelectric conversion unit 11a and a connection unit 12a, and the other pixel (imaging pixel 10) has a photoelectric conversion unit 11b and a connection unit. Has 12b. The photoelectric conversion unit 11 (11a, 11b) is a photodiode PD, which converts incident light into electric charges and stores the photoelectrically converted electric charges.

As shown by the broken line 20 in FIG. 3, the image pickup device 3 has a configuration in which two adjacent pixels share a floating diffusion (FD) 14, a connection unit 15, an amplification unit 16, and a selection unit 17. In the present embodiment, the circuit configurations of the two adjacent image pickup pixels 10 are the same as the circuit configurations of the AF pixel 13 and the image pickup pixel 10 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the connection unit 12a, the connection unit 12b, and the connection unit 15 can be said to be switching units (switch units) for switching connection and disconnection, respectively.

The supply unit 35 is a portion (wiring, electrodes, etc.) of the image pickup element 3 that supplies (applies) the power supply voltage VDD to the connection unit 15 and the amplification unit 16. The supply unit 35 is given a power supply voltage VDD from the supply unit 30 (see FIG. 2). The supply unit 35 may be a part of the supply unit 30.

The connection unit 12a is composed of a transistor M1a controlled by the signal TX1, and electrically connects or disconnects the photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the FD14. The connection unit 12a is a transfer unit 12a, and transfers the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11a to the FD 14.

The connection unit 12b is composed of a transistor M1b controlled by the signal TX2, and electrically connects or disconnects the photoelectric conversion unit 11b and the FD14. The connection unit 12b is a transfer unit 12b, and transfers the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b to the FD 14. The transistors M1a and M1b are transfer transistors, respectively. The capacity C of the FD 14 accumulates (retains) the charge transferred to the FD 14 and converts it into a voltage divided by the capacity value. The FD 14 is a storage unit 14 and stores the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11.

The amplification unit 16 is composed of a transistor M3 whose gate (terminal) is connected to the FD 14, and amplifies and outputs a signal due to the electric charge stored in the capacitance C of the FD 14. The drain (terminal) and source (terminal) of the transistor M3 are connected to the supply unit 35 and the selection unit 17, respectively, which supply the power supply voltage VDD. The amplification unit 16 functions as a part of the source follower circuit with the current source 26 as the load current source. The transistor M3 is an amplification transistor. The amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17 form an output unit that generates and outputs a signal based on the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11.

The connection unit 15 is composed of a transistor M2 controlled by a signal RST, and electrically connects or disconnects the supply unit 35 and the FD 14. By connecting the supply unit 35 and the FD 14, the connection unit 15 discharges the electric charge accumulated by the FD 14 to the supply unit 35. The connection unit 15 is a discharge unit (reset unit) 15 that discharges the electric charge accumulated in the FD 14 and resets the voltage of the FD 14. The transistor M2 is a reset transistor.

The selection unit 17 is composed of a transistor M4 controlled by a signal SEL, and electrically connects or disconnects the amplification unit 16 and the vertical signal line 25. The transistor M4 of the selection unit 17 outputs a signal from the amplification unit 16 to the vertical signal line 25 when it is in the ON state. The transistor M4 is a selection transistor.

The current source 26 is connected to each pixel via the vertical signal line 25. The current source 26 generates a current for reading a signal from the pixels, and supplies the generated current to the vertical signal line 25 and the amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17 of each pixel.

The image pickup device 3 performs an operation of discharging the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the pixel (reset operation) and an operation of reading a signal from the pixel (reading operation). In the reset operation for the AF pixel 13 shown in FIG. 3, the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11a is discharged to the supply unit 35 via the transfer unit 12a, the FD 14, and the connection unit 15. In the reset operation for the image pickup pixel 10, the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11b is discharged to the supply unit 35 via the transfer unit 12b, the FD 14, and the connection unit 15.

In the present embodiment, the image pickup control unit 4a performs read control of the rolling shutter method. The image pickup pixel row and the AF pixel row of the image pickup element 3 are sequentially selected by the readout control unit 40. In the image pickup device 3, the reset operation and the read operation are performed while scanning line by line from the top row to the bottom row, for example. The image pickup control unit 4a controls the read control unit 40 to sequentially select all pixel rows to read out the signal of each pixel, and the image pickup control unit 4a reads out the signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row and the image pickup pixel. A second read-out process is performed separately from the read-out of the signal of each pixel in the row.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation example of the image pickup device according to the first embodiment, and shows an operation example in the case where the first read-out process is performed to read out the pixel signal. The vertical axis indicates a pixel row, and the horizontal axis indicates the timing (time t) at which the reset operation and the read operation of each pixel row are performed. FIG. 4 schematically shows the transition of the pixel row in which the reset operation and the read operation are performed.

When the first readout process is instructed by the image pickup control unit 4a, the readout control unit 40 sequentially selects pixel rows and outputs a signal from each pixel, as shown in FIG. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, the read control unit 40 sequentially selects pixel rows from the first row to the 16th row. The read control unit 40 outputs a signal from each pixel of the selected pixel row to the vertical signal line 25. An example of a signal reading method in the case of the first reading process will be described below.

The read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12a of the G pixel 10 (1,1) to the B pixel 10 (1,8), which are the pixels of the first image pickup pixel row 401 in the first row. Further, the read control unit 40 turns off the transfer unit 12 (transfer unit 12a, transfer unit 12b) of pixels in rows other than the first row. As a result, in the G pixels 10 (1,1) to the B pixels 10 (1,8) in the first row, the electric charges converted photoelectric by the respective photoelectric conversion units 11a are transferred to the FD 14. Each signal of the G pixel 10 (1,1) to the B pixel 10 (1,8) in the first row is connected to the vertical signal line 25a to the vertical signal line 25h via the selection unit 17 of each pixel. It is output.

The read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12b of the R pixel 10 (2,1) to the G pixel 10 (2,8), which is the pixel of the second image pickup pixel row 402 in the second row, and sets the second. The transfer unit 12 (transfer unit 12a, transfer unit 12b) of the pixels of the pixels other than the line is turned off. As a result, in the R pixel 10 (2, 1) to the G pixel 10 (2, 8) in the second row, the electric charge converted photoelectric by each photoelectric conversion unit 11b is transferred to the FD 14. Each signal of the R pixel 10 (2, 1) to the G pixel 10 (2, 8) in the second row is connected to the vertical signal line 25a to the vertical signal line 25h, respectively, via the selection unit 17 of each pixel. It is output.

The read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12a of the G pixel 10 (3,1) to the first AF pixel 13a (3,8), which is the pixel of the first AF pixel row 403a in the third row. , The transfer unit 12 (transfer unit 12a, transfer unit 12b) of the pixels of the pixels of the other rows other than the third row is turned off. In the G pixels 10 (3, 1) to the first AF pixels 13a (3, 8) in the third row, the electric charges converted photoelectric by the respective photoelectric conversion units 11a are transferred to the FD 14. The signals of the G pixels 10 (3, 1) to the first AF pixels 13a (3, 8) in the third row are the vertical signal lines 25a to the vertical signals, respectively, via the selection unit 17 of each pixel. It is output to the line 25h. Similarly, the read control unit 40 sequentially selects the pixels of the fourth and subsequent rows one by one in the order of the fourth row, the fifth row, the sixth row, and the seventh row, and signals from each selected pixel. Is read.

As described above, in the first read processing, the read control unit 40 sequentially selects all pixel rows and reads a signal from each pixel. The pixel signals output to the vertical signal lines 25a to 25h are output to the control unit 4 after being signal-processed by the processing units 50a to 50h, respectively.

Next, the above-mentioned reading operation will be further described by taking as an example the case of reading the signal of the image pickup pixel 10 in the image pickup pixel row. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a pixel readout operation of the image pickup device according to the first embodiment. In the timing chart shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates time, and indicates a control signal input to the pixels of the image pickup device 3. In FIG. 5, a transistor to which a high level (for example, power supply voltage VDD) control signal (signal SEL, signal RST, signal TX) is input is turned on, and a transistor to which a low level (for example, ground voltage) control signal is input. Is turned off. Before the time t1 shown in FIG. 5, the reset operation before the read operation is performed as shown in FIG. 4, and the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of each pixel of the image pickup pixel row to be read is charged. It will be reset.

At time t1 shown in FIG. 5, the signal RST becomes high level. When the signal RST becomes high level, the transistor M2 of the connection portion 15 shared by the image pickup pixel 10 of the image pickup pixel row to be read out and the AF pixel 13 of the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row is turned on. become. When the connection unit 15 is turned on, the FD 14 and the supply unit 35 are electrically connected. As a result, the charge of the FD 14 shared by the AF pixel 13 and the image pickup pixel 10 is reset, and the voltage of the FD 14 becomes the reset voltage.

Further, at time t1, the signal SEL becomes high level. When the signal SEL becomes high level, the transistor M4 of the selection unit 17 shared by the AF pixel 13 and the image pickup pixel 10 is turned on. As a result, the signal based on the reset voltage of the image pickup pixel 10, that is, the signal after resetting the charge of the FD 14 of the image pickup pixel 10, is output to the vertical signal line 25 by the amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17. The signal based on the reset voltage of the image pickup pixel 10 is input to the processing unit 50 as a dark signal via the vertical signal line 25. The dark signal is an analog signal based on the reset voltage, and is converted into a digital signal by the processing unit 50.

At time t2, the signal TX2 becomes high level. When the signal TX2 becomes high level, the transistor M1b of the transfer unit 12b is turned on in the image pickup pixel 10, and the photoelectric conversion unit 11b and the FD 14 are electrically connected. As a result, the electric charge converted photoelectric by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b is transferred to the FD 14. Further, since the signal SEL is at a high level, the signal corresponding to the charge transferred to the FD 14, that is, the signal (pixel signal) based on the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b of the image pickup pixel 10 is selected by the amplification unit 16 and the selection. It is output to the vertical signal line 25 by the unit 17. The pixel signal of the image pickup pixel 10 is input to the processing unit 50 via the vertical signal line 25. The pixel signal is an analog signal generated based on the electric charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11, and is converted into a digital signal by the processing unit 50. At time t3, the signal SEL becomes low level and the transistor M4 of the selection unit 17 is turned off.

The processing unit 50 performs signal processing such as correlation double sampling using the dark signal converted into a digital signal and the pixel signal. The pixel signal of the image pickup pixel 10 is output to the control unit 4 of the camera 1 after signal processing such as correlation double sampling is performed by the processing unit 50. The pixel signal of the first AF pixel 13a and the pixel signal of the second AF pixel 13b are controlled as a pair of signals (first and second signals) after the signal processing by the processing unit 50 is performed. It is output to 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation example of the image pickup device according to the first embodiment, and shows an operation example in the case where the second read-out process is performed to read out the pixel signal. The vertical axis indicates a pixel row, and the horizontal axis indicates the timing (time t) at which the reset operation and the read operation of each pixel row are performed. FIG. 6 schematically shows the transition of the pixel row in which the reset operation and the read operation are performed.

When the second readout process is instructed by the image pickup control unit 4a, the read control unit 40 separately reads out the signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row and reads out the signal of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row. As shown in FIG. 6, the read control unit 40 performs a reset operation and a read operation of the image pickup pixel row, and also performs a reset operation and a read operation of the AF pixel row.

When reading a signal from the AF pixel row (first AF pixel row 403a, second AF pixel row 403b), the read control unit 40 shifts the plurality of AF pixel rows of the image sensor 3 from the top row to the bottom row. The signal of each pixel is read out by sequentially selecting toward. When reading a signal from the image pickup pixel row (first image pickup pixel row 401, second image pickup pixel row 402), the readout control unit 40 shifts a plurality of image pickup pixel rows of the image pickup element 3 from the top row to the bottom row. The signal of each pixel is read out by sequentially selecting toward. In this embodiment, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, the number of AF pixel rows is smaller than the number of imaging pixel rows. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the total number of AF pixel rows in which the reset operation and the read operation are performed is smaller than the total number of the image pixel rows in which the reset operation and the read operation are performed, and the AF pixel row is smaller than the total number of the image pixel rows in which the reset operation and the read operation are performed. In the case, the time required for scanning is shorter.

As described above, in the second readout process, the signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row is read out separately from the signal of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row, so that the signal used for focus detection can be efficiently obtained, and AF can be obtained. It is possible to reduce the burden of signal processing for. The read control unit 40 may read a signal from each pixel of the AF pixel row before the image pickup pixel row when the second read process is instructed. In this case, the first and second signals of the AF pixel pair can be read out at high speed, and the time required for focus adjustment can be shortened. Further, the read control unit 40 may read a signal from each pixel of the image pickup pixel row before the AF pixel row.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, in the frame G1 shown by the dotted line, the timing at which the image pickup pixel row is read out and the timing at which the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row is reset are simultaneously performed. Has occurred. Further, within the dotted line frame G2, the timing at which the AF pixel row reading operation is performed and the timing at which the imaging pixel row adjacent to the AF pixel row is reset may occur at the same time.

During the period within the dotted line frame G1, the read control unit 40 turns on the connection unit 15 of each pixel of the image pickup pixel row to be read in order to read the signal (dark signal) based on the reset voltage. In each pixel of the image pickup pixel row to be read out, the connection portion 15 shared by the pixel of the image pickup pixel row and the pixel of the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row is turned on. When the connection unit 15 is turned on, the FD 14 and the supply unit 35 are electrically connected. As a result, the electric charge of the FD 14 is discharged to the supply unit 35 in each pixel of the image pickup pixel row.

The read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12 of each pixel of the AF pixel row next to the image pickup pixel row while the connection unit 15 of each pixel of the image pickup pixel row is on for reading the dark signal. Make it a state. When both the transfer unit 12 and the connection unit 15 of the pixels in the AF pixel row are turned on, the photoelectric conversion unit 11, the FD 14, and the supply unit 35 of the pixels in the AF pixel row are electrically connected. As a result, in each pixel of the AF pixel row, the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is discharged to the supply unit 35, and the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is reset. In this way, in parallel with the reading operation of the image pickup pixel row, the reset operation of discharging the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of each pixel of the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row is performed.

After the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is discharged in each pixel of the AF pixel row, the read control unit 40 turns off the transfer unit 12 of each pixel in the AF pixel row. Since the connection unit 15 shared by the pixel in the image pickup pixel row to be read out and the pixel in the AF pixel row is in the ON state, the voltage of the FD 14 is in the reset state. When the selection unit 17 shared by the pixel of the image pickup pixel row to be read out and the pixel of the AF pixel row is in the ON state, the dark signal based on the reset voltage of each pixel of the image pickup pixel row is the selection unit 17 of each pixel. Is output to the vertical signal line 25 connected to the pixel.

After the dark signal of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row is read out, the read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12 of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row. In each pixel of the image pickup pixel row, the charge photoelectrically converted by each photoelectric conversion unit 11 is transferred to the FD 14. The pixel signal of each pixel in the imaged pixel row is output to the vertical signal line 25 connected to the pixel via the selection unit 17 of each pixel.

As described above, the read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12 of the pixel of the AF pixel row while the connection unit 15 is in the on state for reading the dark signal, and the transfer unit 12 and the connection unit 15 connects the photoelectric conversion unit 11 and the supply unit 35 of the pixels in the AF pixel row. As a result, in each pixel of the AF pixel row, the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is discharged to the supply unit 35, and the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is reset. As described above, the image sensor 3 according to the present embodiment can perform the reset operation for the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row even during the period in which the image pickup pixel row is read out.

During the period within the dotted line frame G2, the read control unit 40 turns on the connection unit 15 of each pixel of the AF pixel row to be read in order to read the dark signal. In each pixel of the AF pixel row to be read, the connection portion 15 shared by the pixel of the AF pixel row and the pixel of the image pickup pixel row adjacent to the AF pixel row is turned on. As a result, the electric charge of the FD 14 is discharged to the supply unit 35 in each pixel of the AF pixel row.

The read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12 of each pixel of the image pickup pixel row next to the AF pixel row while the connection unit 15 of each pixel of the AF pixel row is on for reading the dark signal. Make it a state. When both the transfer unit 12 and the connection unit 15 of the pixels in the image pickup pixel row are turned on, the photoelectric conversion unit 11, the FD 14, and the supply unit 35 of the pixels in the image pickup pixel row are electrically connected. As a result, in each pixel of the image pickup pixel row, the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is discharged to the supply unit 35, and the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is reset. In this way, in parallel with the reading operation of the AF pixel row, the reset operation of discharging the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of each pixel of the image pickup pixel row adjacent to the AF pixel row is performed.

After the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is discharged in each pixel of the image pickup pixel row, the read control unit 40 turns off the transfer unit 12 of each pixel in the image pickup pixel row. Since the connection unit 15 shared by the pixel in the AF pixel row to be read out and the pixel in the image pickup pixel row is in the ON state, the voltage of the FD 14 is in the reset state. When the selection unit 17 shared by the pixel of the AF pixel row to be read and the pixel of the image pickup pixel row is in the ON state, the dark signal of each pixel of the AF pixel row is transmitted through the selection unit 17 of each pixel. It is output to the vertical signal line 25 connected to the pixel.

After the dark signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row is read out, the read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12 of each pixel in the AF pixel row. In each pixel of the AF pixel row, the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is transferred to the FD 14. The pixel signal of each pixel in the AF pixel row is output to the vertical signal line 25 connected to the pixel via the selection unit 17 of each pixel.

As described above, the read control unit 40 sets the transfer unit 12 of the pixel of the image pickup pixel row in the on state and the transfer unit 12 and the connection unit within the period in which the connection unit 15 is turned on for reading the dark signal. 15 connects the photoelectric conversion unit 11 and the supply unit 35 of the pixels in the image pickup pixel row. As a result, in each pixel of the image pickup pixel row, the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is discharged to the supply unit 35, and the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is reset. As described above, the image sensor 3 according to the present embodiment can perform the reset operation for the image pickup pixel row next to the AF pixel row even during the period in which the AF pixel row reading operation is performed.

When discharging the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11a (or 11b), the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11a (or 11b) is transferred via the transfer unit 12a (or 12b), the FD 14, and the connection unit 15. It is necessary to discharge to the supply unit 35. Further, when the pixel signal is read out, the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b (or 11a) is transferred to the FD 14 via the transfer unit 12b (or 12a). Therefore, if one of two adjacent pixels sharing the FD 14 is to be reset and the other pixel is read out at the same time, the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion units 11a and 11b are mixed. The charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the pixel to be read to the FD 14 may be discharged to the supply unit 35. It can be said that a collision occurs between the read operation and the reset operation. In this case, the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the pixel to be read cannot properly read the signal corresponding to the charge converted by photoelectric conversion.

However, in the present embodiment, the read control unit 40 keeps the connection unit 15 on for reading the dark signal of one of the two adjacent pixels, while the transfer unit 12 of the other pixel is turned on. Is turned on, and the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the other pixel is discharged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transfer unit 12a and the transfer unit 12b of the two adjacent pixels from being turned on and affecting the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the pixel to be read.

Further, after the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the other pixel is discharged, the read control unit 40 turns off the transfer unit 12 of the other pixel and then turns off the connection unit 15. .. In this case, after the photoelectric conversion unit 11 and the FD 14 of the other pixel are electrically disconnected, the FD 14 and the supply unit 35 are electrically disconnected. This makes it possible to reduce the influence of the feedthrough on the FD 14 caused by the switching from the on state to the off state of the transfer unit 12 and the connection unit 15 of the other pixel. It is possible to suppress fluctuations in the voltage of the FD 14 under the influence of changes in the signal level of the signal TX input to the transfer unit 12, and to suppress noise from being mixed into the dark signal. The read control unit 40 does not necessarily have to turn off the connection unit 15 after turning off the transfer unit 12 of the other pixel, and turns off the transfer unit 12 and the connection unit 15 of the other pixel at the same time. May be.

As described above, in the present embodiment, among the adjacent pixels having the configuration of sharing the FD14, the timing at which the reading operation of one pixel is performed and the timing at which the reset operation of the other pixel is performed coincide with each other. However, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the signal quality of the pixels. The image pickup device 3 can avoid a collision between the read operation and the reset operation, and can appropriately read a signal corresponding to the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the pixel to be read.

The image sensor 3 simultaneously discharges the charge of the FD 14 for reading the signal of one of the two adjacent pixels and the charge stored in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the other pixel (in parallel). Can be done. Therefore, the image sensor 3 takes time to read out the pixel signal and discharge the charge of the pixel as compared with the case where the signal of one pixel is read out and the charge of the other pixel is discharged in different periods. Can be shortened. It is possible to prevent the frame rate of shooting from decreasing.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an operation example of the image pickup device during the period in the dotted line frame G1 of FIG. FIG. 7 shows a control signal input to each pixel of the image pickup pixel row to be read out and each pixel of the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row. In the timing chart shown in FIG. 7, the vertical axis indicates the voltage level of the signal, and the horizontal axis indicates the time. In FIG. 7, a transistor to which a high level (for example, power supply voltage VDD) control signal (signal SEL, signal RST, signal TX) is input is turned on, and a transistor to which a low level (for example, ground voltage) control signal is input. Is turned off. Hereinafter, an operation example of the image pickup device 3 during the period within the dotted line frame G1 of FIG. 6 will be described by taking the AF pixel 13 in the AF pixel row and the image pickup pixel 10 in the image pickup pixel row shown in FIG. 3 as examples.

Since the signal RST is at a high level at the time t10 shown in FIG. 7, the connection portion shared by the image pickup pixel 10 of the image pickup pixel row to be read out and the AF pixel 13 of the AF pixel row adjacent to the image pickup pixel row. The transistor M2 of 15 is in the ON state. At time t11, the signal TX1 becomes high level, so that the transistor M1a of the transfer unit 12a is turned on. Since both the signal RST and the signal TX1 are at a high level, the supply unit 35, the FD 14, and the photoelectric conversion unit 11a are electrically connected. As a result, the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11a of the AF pixel 13 is discharged, and the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit 11a is reset.

At time t12, when the signal TX1 becomes low level, the transistor M1a of the transfer unit 12a is turned off. Since the signal RST is at a high level, the charge of the FD 14 shared by the image pickup pixel 10 and the AF pixel 13 is reset.

At time t13, the signal SEL becomes high level. When the signal SEL becomes high level, the transistor M4 of the selection unit 17 shared by the image pickup pixel 10 and the AF pixel 13 is turned on. The signal based on the reset voltage of the image pickup pixel 10, that is, the signal (dark signal) after resetting the charge of the FD 14 of the image pickup pixel 10, is output to the vertical signal line 25 by the amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17. The dark signal of the image pickup pixel 10 is input to the processing unit 50 via the vertical signal line 25 and converted into a digital signal.

At time t14, the signal TX2 goes high. When the signal TX2 becomes high level, the transistor M1b of the transfer unit 12b is turned on in the image pickup pixel 10, and the photoelectric conversion unit 11b and the FD 14 are electrically connected. As a result, the electric charge converted photoelectric by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b is transferred to the FD 14. Further, since the signal SEL is at a high level, a pixel signal based on the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b of the image pickup pixel 10 is output to the vertical signal line 25 by the amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17. The pixel signal of the image pickup pixel 10 is input to the processing unit 50 via the vertical signal line 25 and converted into a digital signal. The processing unit 50 performs signal processing such as correlated double sampling using the dark signal converted into a digital signal and the pixel signal, and then outputs the processed signal to the control unit 4.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an operation example of the image pickup device during the period in the dotted line frame G2 of FIG. FIG. 8 shows a control signal input to each pixel of the AF pixel row to be read out and each pixel of the image pickup pixel row adjacent to the AF pixel row. Hereinafter, an operation example of the image pickup device 3 during the period within the dotted line frame G2 of FIG. 6 will be described by taking the AF pixel 13 in the AF pixel row and the image pickup pixel 10 in the image pickup pixel row shown in FIG. 3 as examples.

At time t20 shown in FIG. 8, since the signal RST is at a high level, the connection portion shared by the AF pixel 13 in the AF pixel row to be read out and the image pickup pixel 10 in the image pickup pixel row adjacent to the AF pixel row. The transistor M2 of 15 is in the ON state. At time t21, the signal TX2 becomes high level, so that the transistor M1b of the transfer unit 12b is turned on. Since both the signal RST and the signal TX2 are at a high level, the supply unit 35, the FD 14, and the photoelectric conversion unit 11b are electrically connected. As a result, the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11b of the image pickup pixel 10 is discharged, and the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit 11b is reset.

At time t22, when the signal TX2 becomes low level, the transistor M1b of the transfer unit 12b is turned off. Since the signal RST is at a high level, the charge of the FD 14 shared by the AF pixel 13 and the image pickup pixel 10 is reset.

At time t23, the signal SEL becomes high level. When the signal SEL becomes high level, the transistor M4 of the selection unit 17 shared by the AF pixel 13 and the image pickup pixel 10 is turned on. The signal based on the reset voltage of the AF pixel 13, that is, the signal (dark signal) after resetting the charge of the FD 14 of the AF pixel 13, is output to the vertical signal line 25 by the amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17. The dark signal of the AF pixel 13 is input to the processing unit 50 via the vertical signal line 25 and converted into a digital signal.

At time t24, the signal TX1 becomes high level. When the signal TX1 becomes high level, the transistor M1a of the transfer unit 12a is turned on in the AF pixel 13, and the photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the FD 14 are electrically connected. As a result, the electric charge converted photoelectric by the photoelectric conversion unit 11a is transferred to the FD 14. Further, since the signal SEL is at a high level, the pixel signal based on the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11a of the AF pixel 13 is output to the vertical signal line 25 by the amplification unit 16 and the selection unit 17. The pixel signal of the AF pixel 13 is input to the processing unit 50 via the vertical signal line 25 and converted into a digital signal. The processing unit 50 performs signal processing such as correlated double sampling using the dark signal converted into a digital signal and the pixel signal, and then outputs the processed signal to the control unit 4.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image sensor 3 is connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the other pixel during the period in which the charge of the FD 14 is discharged for reading the signal of one of the two pixels. The accumulated charge can be discharged. It is possible to prevent a collision between the read operation and the reset operation, and it is possible to suppress deterioration of the quality of the pixel signal read by the read operation. It is possible to prevent the accuracy of focus detection using the pixel signal from being lowered.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The image sensor 3 is generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the second photoelectric conversion unit 11b that photoelectrically convert light to generate electric charges, and the first photoelectric conversion unit 11a or the second photoelectric conversion unit 11b. The storage unit 14 that stores the electric charge, the first transfer unit 12a that transfers the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit 11a to the storage unit 14, and the charge generated by the second photoelectric conversion unit 11b are transferred to the storage unit 14. The second transfer unit 12b to be transferred, the connection unit 15 capable of connecting the storage unit 14 and the supply unit 35 for supplying a predetermined voltage, and the first photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the storage unit 14 by the first transfer unit 12a. After connecting and connecting the storage unit 14 and the supply unit 35 by the connection unit 15, the first photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the storage unit 14 are disconnected by the first transfer unit 12a, and the storage unit 14 and the storage unit 14 are connected by the connection unit 15. It is provided with a control unit (reading control unit 40) that performs first control by disconnecting the supply unit 35 and connecting the second photoelectric conversion unit 11b and the storage unit 14 by the second transfer unit 12b. Since this is done, the image sensor 3 according to the present embodiment transfers the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the electric charge of the FD 14 in parallel, and then converts the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit 11b. Based on the signal can be read out. It is possible to avoid a collision between the read operation and the reset operation, and it is possible to suppress deterioration of the pixel signal quality.

(2) In the first control, the control unit disconnects the first photoelectric conversion unit 11a and the storage unit 14, and then disconnects the storage unit 14 and the supply unit 35. Since this is done, the influence of feedthrough on the FD 14 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress noise from being mixed in the pixel signal.

The following modifications are also within the scope of the present invention, and one or more of the modifications can be combined with the above-described embodiment.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a part of the image pickup device according to the modified example 1. In the image pickup device 3 according to this modification, as shown by the broken line 20 in FIG. 9, two adjacent pixels are an FD 14, a connection unit 15, an amplification unit 16, and a selection unit 17 (first selection unit 17a, It is configured to be shared with the second selection unit 17b).

The first selection unit 17a is composed of a transistor M4a controlled by a signal SELa, and electrically connects or disconnects the amplification unit 16 and the first vertical signal line 25a. When the transistor M4a of the first selection unit 17a is in the ON state, the transistor M4a outputs the signal from the amplification unit 16 to the first vertical signal line 25a. The second selection unit 17b is composed of a transistor M4b controlled by a signal SELb, and electrically connects or disconnects the amplification unit 16 and the second vertical signal line 25b. When the transistor M4b of the second selection unit 17b is in the ON state, the transistor M4b outputs the signal from the amplification unit 16 to the second vertical signal line 25b.

The first current source 26a is connected to each pixel via the first vertical signal line 25a. The first current source 26a generates a current for reading a signal from the pixels, and supplies the generated current to the first vertical signal line 25a, the amplification unit 16 of each pixel, and the first selection unit 17a. The second current source 26b is connected to each pixel via the second vertical signal line 25b. The second current source 26b generates a current for reading a signal from the pixels, and supplies the generated current to the second vertical signal line 25b and the amplification unit 16 and the second selection unit 17b of each pixel.

The read control unit 40 can output the pixel signal to the first vertical signal line 25a by turning on the first selection unit 17a. The read control unit 40 can also output the pixel signal to the second vertical signal line 25b by turning on the second selection unit 17b. The pixel signal output to the first vertical signal line 25a or the second vertical signal line 25b is output to the control unit 4 of the camera 1 after the signal processing by the processing unit 50 is performed.

The read control unit 40 turns on the first selection unit 17a of each pixel in one of the two rows and turns on the second selection unit 17b of each pixel in the other row. You may do it. In this case, the signal of the pixel of one of the two rows is output to the first vertical signal line 25a, and the signal of the pixel of the other row is output to the second vertical signal line 25b. Therefore, the read control unit 40 can simultaneously read the signals of the pixels for two rows, and can sequentially select the pixel rows for every two rows to read the pixel signals.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the read control unit 40 performs, for example, a reset operation of the AF pixel row in the third row and a read operation of the image pixel row in the fourth row, and the image pixel row in the fifth row. The reading operation and the reset operation of the image pickup pixel row of the sixth row may be performed. The read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12a of the pixel of the third row while the connection unit 15 shared by the pixels of the third row and the fourth row is in the on state, and at the same time, the fifth row. While the connection unit 15 shared by the pixels in the row and the sixth row is in the ON state, the transfer unit 12b of the pixel in the sixth row is turned on. The charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11a of the pixel in the third row is discharged to the supply unit 35, and the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit 11b of the pixel in the sixth row is discharged to the supply unit 35.

After that, the read control unit 40 turns off the transfer unit 12a of the pixel in the third row and turns off the transfer unit 12b of the pixel in the sixth row. Since the connection portion 15 shared by the pixels of the third row and the fourth row is in the ON state, the voltage of the FD 14 shared by the pixels of the third row and the fourth row is reset. Further, since the connection portion 15 shared by the pixels of the 5th row and the 6th row is in the ON state, the voltage of the FD 14 shared by the pixels of the 5th row and the 6th row is reset. The dark signal of the pixel in the fourth row is output to the first vertical signal line 25a via, for example, the first selection unit 17a. The dark signal of the pixel on the fifth row is output to the second vertical signal line 25b via, for example, the second selection unit 17b.

After the dark signal of each pixel of the 4th row and the 5th row is read out, the read control unit 40 turns on the transfer unit 12b of the pixel of the 4th row and the 5th row. The transfer unit 12a of the pixel is turned on. In each of the pixels in the 4th row and the 5th row, the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is transferred to the FD 14. The pixel signal of the pixel in the fourth row is output to the first vertical signal line 25a via the first selection unit 17a. The pixel signal of the pixel in the fifth row is output to the second vertical signal line 25b via the second selection unit 17b.

(Modification 2)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which two adjacent pixels share the FD14, the amplification unit 16, and the like has been described, but the pixel configuration is not limited to this. The FD14 and the like may be shared by three pixels or more pixels. For example, the configuration may be such that the FD 14 and the like are shared by four pixels.

(Modification 3)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a photodiode is used as the photoelectric conversion unit has been described. However, a photoelectric conversion film (organic photoelectric film) may be used as the photoelectric conversion unit.

(Modification example 4)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the primary color system (RGB) color filter is used for the image pickup device 3 has been described, but the complementary color system (CMY) color filter may be used.

(Modification 5)
The image pickup element and image pickup device described in the above-described embodiments and modifications are applied to cameras, smartphones, tablets, cameras built into PCs, in-vehicle cameras, cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, radio-controlled models, etc.), and the like. May be done.

Although various embodiments and modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these contents. Other aspects considered within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also included within the scope of the present invention.

1 ... image pickup device, 3 ... image sensor, 4a ... image pickup control unit, 4b ... image data generation unit, 10 ... image pickup pixel, 11 ... photoelectric conversion unit, 12 ... transfer unit, 13 ... AF pixel, 14 ... storage unit, 15 ... Connection unit, 25 ... Vertical signal line, 30, 35 ... Supply unit, 40 ... Read control unit, 43 ... Shading unit

Claims (7)

The first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically convert light to generate electric charges, and
The storage unit that stores the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit or the second photoelectric conversion unit, and the storage unit.
A first transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit to the storage unit, and
A second transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the second photoelectric conversion unit to the storage unit, and
A connection unit that can connect the storage unit and the supply unit that supplies a predetermined voltage,
The first photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit are connected by the first transfer unit, the storage unit and the supply unit are connected by the connection unit, and then the first photoelectric conversion unit is connected by the first transfer unit. The first control is to disconnect the unit and the storage unit, disconnect the storage unit and the supply unit by the connection unit, and connect the second photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit by the second transfer unit. Control unit to perform and
An image sensor comprising. In the image pickup device according to claim 1,
The control unit is an image pickup device that disconnects the storage unit and the supply unit after disconnecting the first photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit in the first control. In the image pickup device according to claim 1 or 2.
The control unit connects the second photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit by the second transfer unit, connects the storage unit and the supply unit by the connection unit, and then uses the second transfer unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit are disconnected, the storage unit and the supply unit are disconnected by the connection unit, and the first photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit are connected by the first transfer unit. An image sensor that performs the second control to make the sensor. In the image pickup device according to claim 3,
The control unit is an image pickup device that disconnects the storage unit and the supply unit after disconnecting the second photoelectric conversion unit and the storage unit in the second control. The image pickup device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
An image pickup device having a light-shielding unit that shields a part of light incident on the first photoelectric conversion unit. In the image pickup device according to claim 5,
The storage unit is the first storage unit.
The connection portion is a first connection portion.
A third photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light to generate electric charges, a third transfer unit that transfers charges generated by the third photoelectric conversion unit, and a third transfer unit.
A fourth photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light to generate electric charges, a fourth transfer unit that transfers charges generated by the fourth photoelectric conversion unit, and a fourth transfer unit.
The third photoelectric conversion unit is connected via the third transfer unit, the fourth photoelectric conversion unit is connected via the fourth transfer unit, and the third photoelectric conversion unit or the fourth photoelectric conversion unit is connected. A second storage unit that stores the transferred charge,
A second connection unit for connecting the second storage unit and the supply unit is provided.
The first photoelectric conversion unit, the second photoelectric conversion unit, the third photoelectric conversion unit, and the fourth photoelectric conversion unit are arranged in the first direction.
In the first control, the control unit connects the first storage unit and the supply unit by the first connection unit, and connects the second storage unit and the supply unit by the second connection unit. After that, the first storage unit and the supply unit are disconnected by the first connection unit, the second storage unit and the supply unit are disconnected by the second connection unit, and the second transfer unit disconnects the supply unit. An image sensor that connects the second photoelectric conversion unit and the first storage unit, and connects the third photoelectric conversion unit and the second storage unit by the third transfer unit. The image pickup device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A generator that generates image data based on the signal output from the image sensor,
An image pickup device equipped with.

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