Image sensor and electronic camera

Abstract

An image sensor, includes: a plurality of pixels arranged along both of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction, each having a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light; a plurality of signal lines disposed along the second direction, each connected to a plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction; and a control unit that executes control so as to output signals, each generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit, to the signal lines different from one another.

1 . An image sensor, comprising:
 a plurality of pixels arranged along both of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction, each having a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light;   a plurality of signal lines disposed along the second direction, each connected to a plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction; and   a control unit that executes control so as to output signals, each generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit, to the signal lines different from one another.   
     
     
         2 . An image sensor, comprising:
 a plurality of pixels arranged along both of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction, each having a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light;   a first signal line and a second signal line, disposed along the second direction, each connected to a plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction;   a first connection unit that switches connection and disconnection between the first signal line and each of the plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction; and   a second connection unit that switches connection and disconnection between the second signal line and at least one or more pixels among the plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction.   
     
     
         3 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction include a first pixel and a second pixel;   the plurality of signal lines include a first signal line that is connected to the first pixel and the second pixel and a second signal line different from the first signal line;   the image sensor further comprises a second connection unit that switches connection and disconnection between the second signal line and the second pixel; and   the control unit executes control so as to output a signal from the first pixel to the first signal line and to output a signal from the second pixel to the second signal line next by setting the second connection unit in a connected state.   
     
     
         4 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel arranged in a first column and a third pixel and a fourth pixel arranged in a second column;   the plurality of signal lines include a first signal line that is connected to the first pixel and the second pixel and a second signal line that is connected to the third pixel and the fourth pixel;   the image sensor further comprises a second connection unit that switches connection and disconnection between the second pixel and the second signal line; and   the control unit executes control so as to output a signal from the first pixel to the first signal line, to disallow output of a signal from the third pixel and a signal from the fourth pixel to the second signal line and to output a signal from the second pixel to the second signal line by setting the second connection unit in a connected state.   
     
     
         5 . The image sensor according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction include a first pixel and a second pixel;   the first signal line is connected to the first pixel and the second pixel;   the second connection unit switches connection and disconnection between the second pixel and the second signal line; and   the image sensor further comprises a control unit that executes control so as to output a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit of the first pixel to the first signal line; and to output a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit of the second pixel to the second signal line by setting the second connection unit in a connected state.   
     
     
         6 . The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the pixels each include an accumulating unit that accumulates the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit, a generation unit that is connected to the accumulating unit and generates the signal and a first connection unit that switches connection and disconnection between the generation unit and a signal line; and   the second connection unit switches connection and disconnection between the generation unit in the second pixel and the second signal line.   
     
     
         7 . The image sensor according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second connection unit switches connection and disconnection between a region between the generation unit and the first connection unit in the second pixel and the second signal line.   
     
     
         8 . The image sensor according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a third connection unit that switches connection and disconnection between the accumulating unit of the first pixel and the accumulating unit of another pixel different from both the first pixel and the second pixel, wherein:   the control unit executes control so as to output a signal generated based upon a sum electric charge representing a sum of the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit of the first pixel and the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit of the other pixel by setting the third connection unit in a connected state.   
     
     
         9 . The image sensor according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the control unit executes control so as to output a signal from the first pixel to the first signal line and also to output a signal from another pixel different from both the first pixel and the second pixel to the first signal line.   
     
     
         10 . The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the control unit executes first control under which a signal from the first pixel is output to the first signal line and a signal from the second pixel is output to the second signal line and second control under which the signal from the first pixel and the signal from the second pixel are sequentially output to the first signal line.   
     
     
         11 . An image sensor, comprising:
 a plurality of pixels arranged along both of a row direction and a column direction;   signal lines each disposed in correspondence to a plurality pixels arranged along the column direction; and   a readout unit that reads out pixel signals from the plurality of pixels to the signal lines, wherein:   the readout unit is able to set a readout mode in which a single pixel signal is read out from a pixel block made up with pixels present over m rows×n columns (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and n is an integer equal to or greater than 2); and   in the readout mode, n or fewer pixel signals originating from n or fewer pixel blocks set side-by-side along the column direction are read out to n or fewer signal lines different from one another among the signal lines.   
     
     
         12 . An electronic camera comprising the image sensor according to  claim 1 , and
 an image generation unit that generates image data based upon signals from the pixels.