Solid-state imaging device and camera system

Abstract

A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing AD conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, wherein the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals read out in accordance with the read-out mode while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solid-state imaging device comprising:
 a pixel unit configured to have a plurality of pixel groups, each of the pixel groups which includes first, second, third and fourth pixels; and   wherein the first and the fourth pixels are facing each other in a diagonal direction and the second and the third pixels are facing each other in the diagonal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , each of the pixels has a photoelectric conversion portion, a transfer portion which transfers an electric charge from the photoelectric conversion portion to a floating diffusion portion. 
     
     
         3 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 2 , wherein the floating diffusion portion shares the four pixels. 
     
     
         4 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 2 , further comprising an amplifier portion shares the four pixels, amplifies an electric charge stored in the floating diffusion portion and converts to a signal. 
     
     
         5 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a select portion locates between the amplifier portion and a vertical signal line. 
     
     
         6 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the fourth pixels have first exposure time and the second and the third have second exposure time which is different from the first exposure time during a wide dynamic range mode. 
     
     
         7 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the four pixels have same color filters. 
     
     
         8 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second pixels select and then the third and the fourth pixels select in order during an additional mode. 
     
     
         9 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, the second, the third and the fourth pixels select in order during all pixels readout mode. 
     
     
         10 . A camera system comprising:
 a solid-state imaging device; and   an optical system that forms a subject image in the solid-state imaging device,   wherein the solid-state imaging device includes:   a pixel unit configured to have a plurality of pixel groups, each of the pixel groups which includes first, second, third and fourth pixels; and   wherein the first and the fourth pixels are facing each other in a diagonal direction and the second and the third pixels are facing each other in the diagonal direction.   
     
     
         11 . The camera system according to  claim 10 , each of the pixels has a photoelectric conversion portion, a transfer portion which transfers an electric charge from the photoelectric conversion portion to a floating diffusion portion. 
     
     
         12 . The camera system according to  claim 11 , wherein the floating diffusion portion shares the four pixels. 
     
     
         13 . The camera system according to  claim 11 , further comprising an amplifier portion shares the four pixels, amplifies an electric charge stored in the floating diffusion portion and converts to a signal. 
     
     
         14 . The camera system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a select portion locates between the amplifier portion and a vertical signal line. 
     
     
         15 . The camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and the fourth pixels have first exposure time and the second and the third have second exposure time which is different from the first exposure time during a wide dynamic range mode. 
     
     
         16 . The camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the four pixels have same color filters. 
     
     
         17 . The camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and the second pixels select and then the third and the fourth pixels select in order during an additional mode. 
     
     
         18 . The camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first, the second, the third and the fourth pixels select in order during all pixels readout mode. 
     
     
         19 . An image capturing apparatus comprising:
 a mechanical shutter selectively receiving incident light;   a solid-state imaging device; and   an optical system that forms a subject image in the solid-state imaging device,   wherein the solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit configured to have a plurality of pixel groups, each of the pixel groups which includes first, second, third and fourth pixels; and   wherein the first and the fourth pixels are facing each other in a diagonal direction and the second and the third pixels are facing each other in the diagonal direction.   
     
     
         20 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 19 , each of the pixels has a photoelectric conversion portion, a transfer portion which transfers an electric charge from the photoelectric conversion portion to a floating diffusion portion. 
     
     
         21 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the floating diffusion portion shares the four pixels. 
     
     
         22 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising an amplifier portion shares the four pixels, amplifies an electric charge stored in the floating diffusion portion and converts to a signal. 
     
     
         23 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising a select portion locates between the amplifier portion and a vertical signal line. 
     
     
         24 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and the fourth pixels have first exposure time and the second and the third have second exposure time which is different from the first exposure time during a wide dynamic range mode. 
     
     
         25 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the four pixels have same color filters. 
     
     
         26 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and the second pixels select and then the third and the fourth pixels select in order during an additional mode. 
     
     
         27 . The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the first, the second, the third and the fourth pixels select in order during all pixels readout mode.