SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME

摘要

Provided are an imaging apparatus with reduced variations in ranging results and increased ranging precision, and its driving method. The imaging apparatus includes a near-infrared light source and a solid-state imaging device. The solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion region in which a plurality of photoelectric converters is arranged in a matrix, a plurality of vertical transfer units for transferring signal charges generated in the photoelectric converters in a direction perpendicular to a row direction of the photoelectric conversion region, a plurality of horizontal transfer units for transferring the signal charges in a direction horizontal to the row direction of the photoelectric conversion region, and a plurality of charge detectors for amplifying and outputting the signal charges. In one frame scanning period, a plurality of signal charges generated in one of the plurality of photoelectric converters is individually output from an identical one of the plurality of charge detectors.

主权项

1. A solid-state imaging device for use in an imaging apparatus that comprises a near-infrared light source for emitting near-infrared light to a subject, and the solid-state imaging device for receiving incident light from the subject, the solid-state imaging device comprising:
a photoelectric conversion region in which a plurality of photoelectric converters is arranged in a matrix; a plurality of vertical transfer units for transferring signal charges generated in each of the plurality of photoelectric converters, in a direction perpendicular to a row direction of the photoelectric conversion region; a plurality of horizontal transfer units for transferring the signal charges in a direction horizontal to the row direction of the photoelectric conversion region; and a plurality of charge detectors for amplifying and outputting the signal charges, wherein, in one frame scanning period, a plurality of signal charges generated in one of the plurality of photoelectric converters is output from one and the same one of the plurality of charge detectors.