JPH06284349A - Solid-state image pickup device and driving method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a solid-state image pickup device capable of performing signal processings respectively suitable for moving images and still images and performing recording. CONSTITUTION:Signal electric charge read from a photodiode 1 to a vertical CCD register 2 is preserved through a horizontal CCD register 3, an output amplifier 6 and a moving image compression circuit 12 in a memory 13 for the moving images at the time of processing it as a moving image signal and is preserved through a signal electric charge storage CCD register 4, the horizontal CCD register 5 for the still images, the output amplifier 7 for the still images and a still image compression circuit 16 in the memory 17 for the still images at the time of processing it as a still image signal. Thus, the band of the output amplifier and the bit length of digital signals, etc., can be optimized for the moving images and the still images and high quality output images can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device suitable for obtaining a moving image and a still image of high image quality from a signal charge received by a solid-state image pickup device, and a driving method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Camera-integrated VTRs currently on the market
An example of the structure will be described below with reference to FIG. Figure 1
3 is a circuit structure diagram according to such a conventional example. A photodiode 1 arranged in a matrix and a vertical CCD register 2 connected to one end of the photodiode 1 are provided in the light receiving portion on the Si semiconductor substrate. Vertical CCD
The end of the register 2 is connected to one horizontal CCD register 3, and the end of the horizontal CCD register 3 is input to the output amplifier 6. The output of the output amplifier 6 is the correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) / gain control circuit (AG
C) 10, the signal processing circuit 42, the encoder 43,
Both the luminance (Y) / signal color (C) signals are input to the VCR unit 44 and the VTR tape 45. In this conventional example, the signal charges stored in the photodiode 1 are collectively read out to the vertical CCD 2 at a predetermined timing,
Further, it is sequentially transferred to the horizontal CCD 3. The signal charges transferred to the horizontal CCD 3 are further sequentially converted into voltage output signals by the output amplifier 6. This voltage output signal is subjected to reset noise removal by the CDS circuit 10 and gain conversion by the AGC circuit 10, and then converted into a video signal by the encoder 43, input to the VCR unit 44, and recorded on the VTR tape 45. Examples of such a technology include, for example, Eye Triple E, Transactions on Consumer Electronics, August 1990, pages 494 to 501 (IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics).
cs, Vol.36, No.3, Aug., 1990 pp.494-501).

[0003]

In the conventional solid-state image pickup device as described above, video signal processing suitable for moving images can be performed, but signal processing suitable for still images cannot be performed. Therefore, even when a still image is required, the image once recorded as a moving image is obtained by making it still, so that the image quality is insufficient as a still image. An object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state imaging device capable of performing signal processing suitable for images having different image quality such as moving images and still images, and particularly a solid-state imaging device capable of obtaining high-quality moving images and still images, and a driving method thereof. To do.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the solid-state image pickup device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a light receiving portion composed of pixel regions formed in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate, for example, The signal charge generated by the light received at 1 is read from the light receiving unit 1, and the signal charge is converted into an analog signal voltage through the signal charge-signal voltage conversion unit, for example, the output amplifier 6 connected to one end of the register 3, This analog signal voltage is converted into a digital signal by an analog-digital conversion unit such as 11, the digital signal is compressed by an information amount compression unit such as 12, and the compressed signal is stored in a compressed signal storage unit such as 13. In the solid-state imaging device, the analog-digital conversion unit including the signal charge-signal voltage conversion unit, the information amount compression unit, and the compressed signal storage A plurality of signal paths up to, that is, not only the signal paths from 2, 3 to 13 as described above but also signal charge-signal voltage conversion section 7, analog-digital conversion section 15, information A signal path to the quantity compression unit 16 and the compressed signal storage unit 17 is provided,
A switching means, for example, 9 for switching these is provided.

Alternatively, as a method of driving a solid-state image pickup device of the present invention to achieve the above object, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, signal charges received in a matrix-shaped light receiving region 1 on a semiconductor substrate are provided in each column. Another register in which each of the light receiving regions is transferred to the first register train 2 at a predetermined timing, and the signal charges of each train transferred to the first register train 2 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first register train 2. In the driving method in which the signal is sequentially transferred to the output generation unit via the, and the output signal is obtained by reading the signal, a register having a different path is provided as the other register, and the output signal is obtained via the respective registers. The signal charge is transferred, and one path is a signal path for transferring the signal charge to the first output signal generation unit 6 via the second register 3 as the other register. As the other path, all the signal charges stored in the light receiving region via the first register 2 are stored in the third register row 4, and the charges stored in the third register row 4 are stored. Fourth register as other register
And another signal path that is sequentially transferred to the second output signal generation unit 7 via the register 5 of the above, whereby the signal charge is continuously transferred to the first output signal generation unit 6. During the operation, the transfer operation of the signal charge to the second output signal generation section 7 is inserted.

Other features of the present invention will be described in detail in the embodiments.

[0007]

In the present invention, as described above, the signal charges read from the light receiving section are generated as output signals through different signal paths, so that an output signal of a desired image quality is obtained by signal processing corresponding to images of different image quality. It will be possible to obtain. Particularly, for example, different signal charge-signal voltage conversion processing, analog-digital conversion processing, information amount compression processing, and compressed signal accumulation processing are applied to the image signal of a still image and the image signal of a moving image, not uniformly. Will be possible. That is, in the signal processing path of a still image, in order to obtain a desired image quality, the frequency band is made narrower to reduce noise, and in the digital signal processing, the number of bits for a still image is reduced. It becomes possible to obtain a high-quality moving image and still image, for example, by increasing the. Further, by providing a means for switching these signal paths, it becomes possible to insert a still image transfer operation during, for example, signal transfer of a moving image.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A photodiode 1 arranged in a matrix and a vertical CCD register 2 connected to one end of the photodiode 1 are provided in the light receiving portion on the Si semiconductor substrate. One end of the vertical CCD register 2 is a horizontal C
It is connected to the CD register 3, and the end of the horizontal CCD register 3 is input to the output amplifier 6. The output of the output amplifier 6 is the correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) /
Gain control circuit (AGC) 10, A / D converter 11,
It is connected to the moving picture memory 13 via the moving picture compression circuit 12. Further, the other end of the vertical CCD register 2 is further connected to a still image horizontal CCD register 5 via a signal charge storage CCD register 4, and further still image horizontal CCD.
The terminal of the register 5 is input to the still image output amplifier 7. The output of the still image output amplifier 7 is a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) / gain control circuit (AGC) 1 for still image.
4, still image A / D converter 15, still image compression circuit 1
It is connected to the still image memory 17 via 6. The transfer of the vertical CCD register 2 and the signal charge storage CCD register 4 is controlled by the moving image / still image switching circuit 9 via the vertical CCD register drive circuit 8. Although not shown in the figure, the moving image / still image switching circuit 9 is not connected to the vertical CCD register 2 or the still image from the vertical CCD register 2 whether the signal is transmitted from the vertical CCD register 2 to the moving image memory 13 via the output amplifier 6. It also has a role of switching between the system for transferring to the still image memory 17 through the output amplifier 7 for use. Further, in FIG. 1, the number of photodiodes 1 is shown as 3 rows and 3 columns for simplification of the drawing, but the present invention does not limit the number of photodiodes 1 arranged. The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The signal charges stored in the photodiode 1 are collectively read out to the vertical CCD register 2 at a predetermined timing. This signal charge is a horizontal CCD when processed as a moving image signal.
It is sequentially transferred to the register 3. On the other hand, when processed as a still image signal, the still image signal charge storage CCD register 4
To the horizontal CCD register 5 for still images. The moving image / still image switching circuit 9 controls the transfer direction of the moving image and still image. The signal charge transferred to the horizontal CCD register 3 is sequentially converted into a voltage output signal by the output amplifier 6. The voltage output signal is subjected to removal of reset noise by the CDS circuit 10 and gain conversion by the AGC circuit 10, and then converted into a digital signal by the moving picture A / D converter 11, and further subjected to signal compression processing in the moving picture compression circuit 12. After being received, it is stored in the moving image memory 13. On the other hand, the signal charge transferred to the still image horizontal CCD register 5 is sequentially converted into a voltage output signal by the still image output amplifier 7. The voltage output signal is subjected to removal of reset noise by the still image CDS circuit 14 and gain conversion by the still image AGC circuit 10, and then converted into a digital signal by the still image A / D converter 15 to compress the still image. After receiving the signal compression processing in the circuit 16, the still image memory 17
Stored in. Output amplifier 6 for moving images in this embodiment
The signal charge reading means up to is the vertical CCD register 2
It is known as a so-called interline transfer system in which the signal charges in the inside are sequentially transferred to the horizontal CCD register 3 for each row on the scanning screen, and signals to the still image output amplifier 7 for still images The charge reading means is a vertical CC
The signal charges in the D register 2 are collectively stored in the signal charges CC
This is the same as what is known as a so-called frame interline transfer system in which data is transferred to the D register 4 and then sequentially transferred to the horizontal CCD register 5 row by row. In the present embodiment, the description regarding the color signal processing is omitted. Generally, the output signal rate of a moving image is determined based on a request from the outside. For example, in order to conform to the standard of high definition television (HDTV), if the number of photodiodes is 1000 in the vertical direction and 2000 in the horizontal direction, the transfer frequency of the horizontal CCD register 3 is 74 MHz and the moving picture A / D converter 11 is used. Input / output of requires a signal output of 74 Mbytes / second. For this purpose, the output amplifier 6 is required to have a cutoff frequency of 200 MHz or higher. On the other hand, the limitation on the output rate of the still image is only the continuous shooting speed of the still image, which can be determined by the photographing device. For example, if the continuous shooting speed is 5 times / second, the transfer frequency of the horizontal CCD register 5 for still images may be 5 MHz or more, and the input / output of the A / D converter 15 for still images may be 5 Mbytes / second or more. If the cutoff frequency of the still image output amplifier 7 is 30 MHz, it can be used. Since the magnitude of the random noise voltage of the output amplifier is determined by the square root of the noise band, the random noise voltage of the output amplifier differs by 2.5 times or more when the cutoff frequency is 200 MHz and 30 MHz. Reducing the noise of a still image more than the noise of a moving image as in the present embodiment is extremely significant in practical use. This is because the human visual characteristics require that a still image has higher image quality than a moving image. That is, the signal charge of the still image signal processing −
The signal voltage converter has a signal band of the output analog signal voltage lower than that of the moving image signal processing, and the analog-digital converter of the still image signal processing, the information amount compression unit and the compressed signal storage unit are those of the moving image signal processing. By making the time spent for signal transmission per pixel larger than that, a higher quality image can be obtained for a still image that can be output together with a moving image. It should be noted that the S of the still image signal is
/ N is higher than the S / N of the video signal, so A /
It is desirable that the D converter 15, the still image compression circuit 16, and the still image memory 17 handle more bits than the A / D converter 11, the moving image compression circuit 12, and the moving image memory 13. For example, if the latter is 8 bits, the former is 10 bits. In a general application of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment, the number of images stored in the moving image memory 13 is equal to that of the still image memory 17.
Much more than the number of images stored in. For example, in the above example, the moving image includes 60 images per second, while the still image includes 5 images. Therefore, the moving picture compression circuit 12 uses a signal compression technique larger than that of the still picture compression circuit 16, while the still picture compression circuit 16 uses a smaller amount of signal compression in order to minimize deterioration of image quality. To do. As a result, the amount of memory for storing signals per screen in the compressed signal storage unit is larger for still images than for moving images, and high image quality for still images is ensured. By doing so, memory is effectively used, for example, while moving images require less memory, still images can obtain high image quality while using the minimum amount of memory. . In this embodiment, the signal charges for moving images are transferred to the vertical CCD register 2 and sequentially to the horizontal C
In contrast to being transferred to the CD register 3, the still image signal charges are collectively transferred from the vertical CCD register 2 to the still image signal charge storage CCD register 4. Therefore, as described above, even if the transfer frequency of the still image horizontal CCD register 5 is set lower than the transfer frequency of the horizontal CCD register 3, no trouble occurs in capturing continuous moving images. That is, it is possible to insert one still image during shooting of a normal moving image. This is realized by the photographer turning on a switch for still image shooting while shooting a moving image. Still image signal charge storage CCD for signal charge for still image
When batch transfer to the register 4 is desired at a relatively low speed, the deterioration of the image is not so great even if the shooting of the moving image is stopped for only one or two images after inserting one still image. . Further, in this embodiment, the output amplifier 6 for moving images is used.
The signal charge reading means up to the above is known as an interline transfer method, and the signal charge reading means up to the still image output amplifier 7 for a still image is known as a frame interline transfer method. It is the same. Therefore, for still images requiring higher image quality, smear noise can be transferred by frame interline transfer if a signal charge storage CCD register is used to store the signal charges at a very high speed and transfer the signal charges sequentially. While this can be reduced by the effect peculiar to the method, the circuit can be simplified by using the interline transfer method for capturing a moving image, and the increase in the area used for the semiconductor substrate can be suppressed.

Finally, the image output timing of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the output timing of a still image and a moving image according to the present embodiment. In the figure, at which timing a still image or a moving image is output,
It shows whether it is output from the still image output amplifier 7 or the output amplifier 6. As described above, the output moving image of this embodiment has 60 fields per second, and the output still image has 5 fields per second.
If it is assumed that the operation of the present embodiment is switched from the moving image output to the still image output mode at the timing of time = 0 (seconds) in the figure on the screen, and the signal path of the still image is switched for 1/60 seconds, As shown in the figure, the image signal charge (1) is accumulated and transferred to the still image path, and 11 fields are transferred as a moving image in the ⅕ second after the image signal charge (2), during which one screen of the still image is transferred. Will be obtained. In addition, a moving image at time = 0 (second) ((1) in the figure)
Information will not be obtained, but practical problems will not occur for this screen due to interpolation interpolation from the images before and after that, or by repeating the previous screen again. It is possible to do so.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a part of a circuit configuration diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows only a portion different from the first embodiment and its peripheral portion. The second embodiment has substantially the same structure as the first embodiment, but has a moving picture signal charge storage CCD register 18 between one end of the vertical CCD register 2 and the horizontal CCD register 3, and stores the moving picture signal charge. The difference is that it has a vertical register control circuit 19 which also controls the CCD register 18. The operation of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but the photodiode 1
The signal charges stored in the vertical CCD register 2 and transferred to the horizontal CCD register 3 are transferred to the horizontal CCD register 3 after being collectively transferred to the moving image signal charge storage CCD register 18 even when processed as a moving image signal. Where they are done is different. In the present embodiment, the signal charge reading means up to the output amplifier 6 for moving images is the still image output amplifier 7 for still images.
Like the signal charge reading means up to, it is known as a frame interline transfer method. In this embodiment, the signal charge for moving images is transferred from the vertical CCD register 2 to the moving image signal charge storage CCD register 18, and the signal charge for still images is transferred from the vertical CCD register 2 to the still image signal charge storage CCD register 4. Both are transferred together.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, it is apparent that one still image can be inserted during the shooting of a normal moving image. Further, in the present embodiment, the frame interline transfer method is used for the signal charge reading means up to the moving image output amplifier 6 as well as the signal charge reading means up to the still image outputting amplifier 7 for still images. , Smear noise can be greatly reduced in both moving images.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a part of a circuit configuration diagram of an image pickup device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and is similar to the second embodiment in the first embodiment.
Only parts different from the embodiment of FIG. The third embodiment also has substantially the same structure as the first embodiment, but both ends of the vertical CCD register 2 are directly horizontal CCDs.
The vertical register control circuit 20 is connected to the register 3 and the still image horizontal CCD register 5 and does not have the still image signal charge storage CCD register 4, but the vertical register control circuit 20 controls only the vertical CCD register 2. The operation of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but the signal charge stored in the photodiode 1 and read out to the vertical CCD register 2 is processed as a still image signal, and a moving image signal is also obtained. In the same way as in the case of, the still image horizontal CCD register 5
The point where it is directly transferred to is different. The signal charge reading means up to the still image output amplifier 7 in this embodiment is known as an interline transfer system like the signal charge reading means up to the moving image output amplifier 6. In this embodiment, since the inter-line transfer method is used for the signal charge reading means up to the still image output amplifier 7 as well as the signal charge reading means up to the moving image output amplifier 6, the used area of the semiconductor substrate is increased. Can be suppressed.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The circuit configuration and the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted. However, in this embodiment, the pixel structure of the light receiving portion is different from that of the first embodiment, so the pixel structure of the light receiving portion and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a pixel portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Each pixel is composed of a photodiode 28 and a vertical CCD register 27. The vertical CCD register 27 includes a first layer gate 21, 24, a second layer gate 22,
25, three layers of poly-Si composed of third layer gates 23 and 26
It has a gate, and here the third layer gates 23 and 26 also serve as a connecting portion between the photodiodes 28A and 28B and the vertical CCD register 27. The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The signal charges stored in the photodiodes 28A and 28B are supplied to the third layer gates 23 and 26 at a predetermined timing.
It is read out to the vertical CCD register 27 by applying a voltage pulse to. In this reading operation, in the present embodiment, it is possible to select the pixel signal mixed reading method or the pixel signal independent reading method. In this regard,
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows each poly S according to this embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing of the drive pulse waveform of i gate 21,22,23,24,25,26. When the signal charge is an electron, each waveform has a positive voltage on the upper side and a negative voltage on the lower side. If the signal charge is a hole, the upper and lower sides are opposite. As shown in the figure, the low level of each pulse is called L, the middle level is called M, and the high level is called H. For example, these voltages are -9, respectively.
They are V, 0V and 9V. First, in the case of the pixel signal mixed read-out method, in the first field, first, the third layer gate 2
3, 26 changes from M to H, and photodiodes 28A, 2
The signal charge stored in 8B is read out to the vertical CCD register 27. Then the gates 24 and 25 are M,
The gate 26 is L, the gates 21 and 22 are M, the gate 24,
25 is sequentially changed to L, so that the photodiode 28
The signal charges stored in A and 28B are mixed and read out under the gates 21, 22 and 23. Next, in the second field, after the signal charges are read out to the vertical CCD register 27, the gates 21 and 22 are changed to M and the gate 26 is changed to L, so that the photodiodes 28A and 28 are turned on.
The signal charge of B is mixed with the signal charge of the upper or lower photodiode, respectively, and is mixed with the gates 21 and 2.
It will be read under 2,23. In the next field, the read operation returns to the first field again. That is, interlaced drive is being performed. After the read operation is completed, the vertical CCD register 27 performs four-phase CCD transfer, but the operation after this is the same as that in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. Next, in the case of the pixel signal independent reading method, the same reading operation is performed in each field. That is, the third-layer gates 23 and 26 are M
From H to H, and the signal charges stored in the photodiodes 28A and 28B are read out to the vertical CCD register 27. After that, the third-layer gates 23 and 26 change to M, and the respective gates independently read the signal charges stored in the photodiodes 28A and 28B.
After the read operation is completed, the vertical CCD register 27 performs the three-phase CCD transfer, but the operation after this is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, the first
In the same manner as in the above embodiment, the S / N ratio of the still image is reduced by making the output signal rate of the still image slower than the output signal rate of the moving image.
In addition to the improvement effect, there is an advantage that the pixel signal mixed read method and the pixel signal independent read method can be selected as described above. As a result, the pixel signal mixed read-out method, which can obtain a relatively large saturation signal for both moving images and still images, is usually used, and the pixel signal independent read-out method is switched to when picking up still images that require particularly high-definition image quality. It becomes possible.

(Fifth Embodiment) Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 1.
It will be described using 0. FIG. 7 is a part of a circuit configuration diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and shows only a portion different from the first embodiment and its peripheral portion. The fifth embodiment has almost the same structure as the first embodiment, but the signal charge storage CCD register 29 is composed of two parts, and each part has a signal charge of the photodiodes 1 of even or odd rows. Is different in that it has a vertical register control circuit 30 that can be controlled so as to store the data. The operation of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the signal charges stored in the photodiode 1 are collectively read out to the vertical CCD register 2 as a pixel signal mixing system and the photodiode. The difference is that it is possible to select whether the signal charge of 1 is independently read out only in the even or odd rows. Such operation in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a pixel portion according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Each pixel is a photodiode 28 and a vertical CCD
It is composed of a register 27. The vertical CCD register 27 includes the first layer gates 31 and 33 and the second layer gate 3
2, 34 has a two-layer poly-Si gate, where the second-layer gates 32, 34 are photodiodes 28A, 2
It also serves as a connecting portion between 8B and the vertical CCD register 27. The signal charges stored in the photodiodes 28A and 28B are applied to the vertical CCD register 2 by applying voltage pulses to the second layer gates 32 and 34 at a predetermined timing.
It is read to 7. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows the poly-Si gates 31 and 3 according to this embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing of the drive pulse waveform of 2, 33, 34. The definition above and below each waveform, the definition of L, M and H of each pulse and their values are the same as those of the fourth embodiment. First, in the case of the pixel signal mixed reading method, the operation is the same as that of the fourth embodiment. However, when the pixel signal independent reading method is performed, the gate 32 first becomes H,
The signal charge of the photodiode 28A is read out to the gates 31 and 32. The read signal charges of the photodiodes 28 in every other row are collectively transferred to the signal charge storage CCD register 29. Following this, the gate 34 becomes H, and the signal charges of the photodiode 28B are transferred to the gate 3.
It is read out in 3,34. The signal charges of the remaining photodiodes 28 in every other row that have been read out are signal charge accumulation CC.
The data is transferred to the D register 29 again in a batch. The operation after this is the same as that of the first embodiment, and will be omitted. Similar to the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the S / N improvement effect of a still image can be obtained by making the output signal rate of a still image slower than the output signal rate of a moving image, and as described above. There is an advantage that it is possible to select the pixel signal mixed read method and the pixel signal independent read method. As a result, it is possible to obtain a high-definition image quality by performing the pixel signal mixed read-out method for moving images and the pixel signal independent read-out method for still image capturing.

Finally, FIG. 10 shows an arrangement example of the color filters of this embodiment. In the figure, the horizontal CCD register 3 and the output amplifier 6 are provided at one end of the light receiving surface 36, and the horizontal CCD register 5 for still images and the still image are provided at the other end of the light receiving surface 36 via the signal charge storage CCD register section 35. The output amplifier 7 is connected. Here, the light-receiving surface 36 is provided with a stripe-shaped color filter composed of three colors of RGB. By using such a color filter arrangement, it is possible to achieve high color reproducibility in both the pixel signal mixed read method and the pixel signal independent read method.

(Sixth Embodiment) A sixth embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a circuit configuration diagram of an image pickup device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) from photodiodes arranged in matrix
/ Gain control circuit (AGC) 10, A / D converter 11
Up to the moving picture signal circuit, the still picture correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) / gain control circuit (AGC) 14, and the still picture signal circuit up to the still picture A / D converter 15 Since it is the same as that of the embodiment, it is shown as an imaging unit 37. Three image pickup units 37 are provided, and these moving image outputs are connected to the moving image compression circuit 12 and the moving image memory 13 via the moving image synthesizing unit 38. Still image output is performed by the still image compression circuit 1 via the still image synthesizing unit 39.
6, connected to the still image memory 17. The operation of this embodiment will be described below. Regarding the operation of this embodiment as well, the photodiodes arranged in a matrix form the correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) / gain control circuit (AG).
C) Operation of moving image signal circuit up to 10, A / D converter 11, and correlated double sampling circuit for still image (CD
The operation of the still picture signal circuit up to S) / gain control circuit (AGC) 14 and still picture A / D converter 15 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, and therefore its explanation is omitted. The moving image signals output from the three image capturing units 37 are combined into a single combined image by the moving image combining unit 38. Color signal processing is also performed here as needed. The combined moving image is stored in the moving image memory 13 after being subjected to signal compression processing in the moving image compression circuit 12. The same applies to a still image, and the still image signals output from the three image capturing units 37 are combined into a single combined image by the still image combining unit 39. Color signal processing is also performed here if necessary. The combined still image is stored in the still image memory 17 after undergoing signal compression processing in the still image compression circuit 16.
Although the third embodiment has three image pickup units 37, it is omitted in the drawing, but by dividing the incident light with a dichroic mirror, a half mirror, or the like to obtain an image with a resolution three times that of the fifth embodiment. Obtainable.

(Seventh Embodiment) A seventh embodiment of the solid-state image pickup device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a circuit configuration diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration of the present invention, compared to the configuration of the first embodiment, the system of the A / D converter 11, the moving picture compression circuit 12, and the moving picture memory 13 is changed to an analog moving picture compression circuit 40 and an analog moving picture memory 41. They are the same except that The analog moving image compression circuit 40 is a circuit that compresses information in an analog region, such as a low-pass filter, and the analog moving image memory 41 is, for example, V.
It is a recording means in an analog area such as a CR unit or a VTR tape. The operation of this embodiment will be described below. In the operation of this embodiment, the signal which is converted into a voltage output signal by the output amplifier 6, the reset noise is removed by the CDS circuit 10, and the gain is converted by the AGC circuit 10 is subjected to the signal compression processing by the analog moving image compression circuit 40. After that, it is the same as the first embodiment except that it is stored in the analog moving image memory 41. In this embodiment, since the moving picture circuit is handled with an analog signal, a high-speed A / D converter and digital signal processing are unnecessary, and the hardware cost can be reduced. On the other hand, signal processing for still images, which requires high image quality but relatively low signal processing speed, does not cause a problem because digital signals are used.

[0021]

According to the solid-state image pickup device of the present invention, a plurality of signal paths are provided to the analog-digital conversion section including the signal charge-signal voltage conversion section, the information amount compression section, and the compressed signal storage section. By providing a switching means for switching between, the different signal charge-signal voltage conversion processing, analog-digital conversion processing, information amount compression processing, compressed signal storage processing, especially for still image signals and moving image signals. Can be performed, and high-quality moving images and still images can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image output timing of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a portion in the vicinity of a light receiving portion of a circuit configuration diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a portion of a circuit configuration diagram near a light receiving portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a pixel unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram of drive pulses of a pixel portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a portion in the vicinity of a light receiving portion of a circuit configuration diagram according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a pixel portion according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram of drive pulses of a pixel section according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an example diagram of a color filter arrangement according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a circuit configuration diagram according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a circuit configuration diagram according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a circuit configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Photodiode 2 ... Vertical CCD register 3 ... Horizontal CCD register 4 ... Signal charge storage CCD register 5 ... Still image horizontal CCD register 6 ... Output amplifier 7 ... Still image output amplifier 8 ... Vertical CCD register drive circuit 9 ... Video / Still image switching circuit 10 ... Correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) / gain control circuit (AGC) 11 ... A / D converter 12 ... Movie compression circuit 13 ... Movie memory 14 ... Still image correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) /
Gain control circuit (AGC) 15 ... Still image A / D converter 16 ... Still image compression circuit 17 ... Still image memory

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A signal charge generated by light received by a light-receiving portion formed of a pixel region formed in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate is read out from the light-receiving portion, and the signal charge is analogized by a signal charge-signal voltage converter. Convert to signal voltage,
In the solid-state imaging device, which converts the analog signal voltage into a digital signal by the analog-digital conversion unit, compresses the digital signal by using the information amount compression unit, and stores the compressed signal in the compressed signal storage unit, A plurality of signal paths including the above-mentioned signal charge-signal voltage conversion section to the analog-digital conversion section, the information amount compression section, and the compressed signal storage section are provided corresponding to the image signal processing means of different image quality, and these are switched. A solid-state imaging device comprising switching means. 2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the signal path is provided in two ways corresponding to a still image signal processing means and a moving image signal processing means. 3. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the signal charge-signal voltage conversion section of the still image signal processing means has a lower signal band of the output analog signal voltage than that of the moving image signal processing means, and the still image is further processed. A solid-state imaging device characterized in that the analog-digital conversion unit, the information amount compression unit, and the compressed signal storage unit of the signal processing unit spend more time in signal transmission per pixel than those of the moving image signal processing unit. 4. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the number of bits of the digital signal in the analog-digital conversion unit, the information amount compression unit and the compressed signal storage unit of the still image signal processing unit is a moving image signal. A solid-state imaging device having a larger number of bits to be handled than those of the processing means. 5. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the information amount compression section of the still image signal processing means has a smaller information compression amount than that of the moving image signal processing means, and the still image A solid-state imaging device characterized in that the compressed signal storage section of the signal processing means consumes a larger amount of memory for signal storage per screen than that of the moving image signal processing means. 6. The signal charge accumulated in each light receiving area by the signal light received in the light receiving area provided in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate is supplied to a first register row provided for each row of the light receiving area. The signal charges are transferred at a predetermined timing, and further the above-mentioned signal charges are transferred to a second register which is connected to one end of the first register row and is provided in a direction perpendicular to the first register,
Furthermore, in the solid-state imaging device having a configuration in which an output signal is obtained by sequentially reading out a signal charge in the second register to a first output signal generation section provided at one end of the second register, the first register row A third register row for accumulating all the signal charges accumulated in the light receiving area via the first register is provided at the other end of the third register row, and is further accumulated in the third register row. The signal charge is transferred to a fourth register which is connected to one end of the third register row and is provided in a direction perpendicular to the third register, and the signal charge in the fourth register is transferred to the fourth register. A configuration for obtaining an output signal by sequentially reading out to a second output signal generation unit provided at one end, and switching means for switching between a signal transfer path to the second register and a signal transfer path to the fourth register The solid-state imaging device, characterized in that it comprises a. 7. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the drive frequency of the fourth register is lower than the drive frequency of the second register, and the output signal band of the second output signal generation unit is 1. The solid-state imaging device is characterized in that it is lower than the output signal band of the No. 1 output signal generation unit. 8. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said switching means continuously transfers the signal charge to the first output signal generation section via the second register, 2. A solid-state image pickup device comprising switch means for inserting a transfer operation of a signal charge to a second output signal generation section via the third and fourth registers. 9. A signal charge, which is generated by signal light received in a light receiving region provided in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate and accumulated in each light receiving region, is provided for each column of the light receiving region. In a solid-state imaging device having a configuration in which an output signal is transferred to a first register row at a predetermined timing and the signal charges transferred to the first register are sequentially read out to an output signal generation unit via the register. A second register row for accumulating all the signal charges stored in the light receiving area via the first register is provided at one end of the first register row, and the second register is further provided. The signal charge stored in the column is transferred to a third register which is connected to one end of the second register column and is provided in a direction perpendicular to the second register, and further the signal charge in the third register is Third Re A configuration in which an output signal is obtained by sequentially reading out to a first output signal generation unit provided at one end of the transistor, and the other end of the first register row is stored in the light receiving area via a first register. A fourth register row for accumulating all the signal charges stored therein is provided, and the signal charge accumulated in the fourth register row is connected to one end of the fourth register row to form a fourth register. Is transferred to a fifth register provided in the vertical direction, and the signal charge in the fifth register is sequentially read out to a second output signal generation unit provided at one end of the fifth register to obtain an output signal. A solid-state imaging device comprising: a configuration; and means for switching a signal transfer path to a third register and a signal transfer path to a fifth register. 10. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 9,
The drive frequency of the fifth register is lower than the drive frequency of the third register, and the output signal band of the second output signal generation unit is lower than the output signal band of the first output signal generation unit. A characteristic solid-state imaging device. 11. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said switching means continuously transfers the signal charge to the first output signal generation section through the third register, A solid-state image pickup device comprising switch means for inserting a signal charge transfer operation to the second output signal generation section via the fourth and fifth registers. 12. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a color filter having different optical characteristics is provided for each light-receiving region on the light-receiving region provided in a matrix. A solid-state imaging device characterized by being provided in a stripe shape in parallel with a register. 13. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 12, wherein the color filters are filters of three colors of red, green and blue. 14. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 12, comprising three means, and combining the output signals of these solid-state image pickup devices to obtain a color image output of one moving image or a still image. Solid-state imaging device. 15. A signal charge generated by light received by a light-receiving section composed of pixel regions formed in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate is read out from the light-receiving section, and the signal charge is signaled by a signal charge-signal voltage conversion section. In the solid-state imaging device that converts into a voltage and stores this signal voltage in the signal storage unit,
A plurality of signal paths including the signal charge-signal voltage conversion section to the signal storage section are provided, and at least one signal path is provided with a signal charge-analog signal voltage conversion section, an analog-digital conversion section, and a digital information compression section. A system that leads to the compressed signal storage unit, and at least one signal path that serves as a system that leads to the compressed signal storage unit via the signal charge-analog signal voltage conversion unit and the analog information compression unit, and has switching means for switching between these. A solid-state image pickup device comprising: 16. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 15, wherein the digital signal path handles a still image signal, and the analog signal path handles a moving image signal. 17. A column in which signal charges received in a matrix-shaped light receiving region on a semiconductor substrate are transferred to a first register column at a predetermined timing for each column of the light receiving region and transferred to the first register. Of the solid-state image pickup device in which the signal charge is sequentially transferred to the output generation unit via another register arranged in the direction perpendicular to the first register row, and the output signal is obtained by reading the signal. In the driving method, a register having a different path is provided as the other register, and the signal charges are transferred through the respective registers, and one path is provided as the other register through the second register. As a signal path for transferring the signal charges to the first output signal generation unit, and as the other path, all the signal charges stored in the light receiving region via the first register are The third register string is stored and
And another signal path for sequentially transferring the electric charge accumulated in the register row of the above to the second output signal generation unit as the other register via the fourth register, and thereby to the first output signal generation unit. The method for driving a solid-state imaging device, wherein the operation of transferring the signal charge to the second output signal generation unit is inserted while the transfer of the signal charge is continuously performed. 18. A column in which signal charges received in a matrix-shaped light receiving region on a semiconductor substrate are transferred to a first register column at a predetermined timing for each light receiving region in each column and transferred to the first register. Of the solid-state image pickup device in which the signal charge is sequentially transferred to the output generation unit via another register arranged in the direction perpendicular to the first register row, and the output signal is obtained by reading the signal. In the driving method, a register having a different path is provided as the other register, and the signal charge is transferred through the respective registers, and one path is provided in the light receiving region through the first register. The second is all the signal charges that have been stored.
And a signal path for sequentially transferring the signal charges stored in the second register train to the first output signal generation unit via the third register as the other register. As a path of the above, all signal charges stored in the light receiving region via the first register are stored in the fourth register train, and the signal charges stored in the fourth register train are stored in the fourth register train. 5th as another register
And a signal path for sequentially transferring to the second signal generation section via the register of the second signal generation section, so that while the transfer of the signal charge to the first output signal generation section is continuously performed, A method for driving a solid-state image pickup device, comprising: 19. The method for driving a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein when the signal charges stored in each light receiving region are read out to the first output signal generation unit, After adding the signal charges for each of the two light-receiving regions adjacent to each other in the direction parallel to the register, the signals are transferred in the first register and the second register and transferred to the first output signal generation unit. When reading out to the second output signal generation unit, after adding the signal charges for every two light receiving regions adjacent to each other in the direction parallel to the first register, the contents of the first register and the third and fourth registers are changed. Via the signal charge transfer method for transferring to the second output signal generation unit via the second output signal generation unit, or by individually transferring in the first register, the third register and the fourth register for each light receiving region. Transfer to generator The driving method of the solid-state imaging apparatus characterized by a No. either by charge transfer method, you can select one of the methods. 20. A method of driving a solid-state image pickup device according to claim 19, wherein when the signal charges accumulated in each light receiving region are read out to the first output signal generating section, the signal charges are collectively removed from the light receiving region. Transfer to the first register, while
When reading out to the second output signal generation unit, in addition to the transfer method of transferring the light receiving areas to the first register all at once, it is possible to collectively perform the first transfer from the light receiving areas of the odd-numbered rows or even-numbered rows. A transfer method in which the data is transferred to the register, and further transferred to the third register, and then collectively transferred to the first register from the remaining light-receiving regions of even rows or odd rows, and further transferred to the third register. A method for driving a solid-state image pickup device, which is also selectable.