Solid-state imaging device having parallel and serial transmission modes, image data transmission method, and camera system

摘要

The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device conforming to different data transmission modes. A driver in a CMOS sensor includes a single-end driver which is provided in correspondence with two output terminals, activated in a parallel transmission mode, and outputs a corresponding data signal as a single-end signal to a corresponding output terminal; a serializer which is activated in a serial transmission mode and outputs a plurality of data signals which are supplied in parallel, serially one by one, and a differential driver which is activated in the serial transmission mode and outputs each of data signals output from the serializer as a differential signal to the output terminals.

主权项

1. A solid-state imaging device having a parallel transmission mode and a serial transmission mode, comprising:
a pixel array; an AD converting unit converting each of a plurality of analog signals read from the pixel array to a plurality of digital signals and outputting the digital signals; first and second output terminals; first and second single-end drivers which are activated in the parallel transmission mode and, on the basis of the digital signals, output first and second single-end signals to the first and second output terminals, respectively; and a differential driver which is activated in the serial transmission mode and, on the basis of the digital signals, outputs a positive signal and a negative signal constructing differential signals to the first and second output terminals, respectively; and a level shifter shifting a voltage level of each of the digital signals and supplying the resultant signal having the shifted voltage level to a corresponding single-end driver of the first and second single-end drivers in the parallel transmission mode.