SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS, AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that conventional solid-state imaging apparatus can read out signal charges in a specific area out of an imaging area at a high speed but cannot select a specific area in which signal charges should be read out at a high speed. SOLUTION: A solid-state imaging apparatus 601 includes: a pixel area 110 including a plurality of pixels 102 arranged in a matrix on a silicon substrate 101 and a plurality of vertical transfer parts 103 for transferring signal charges generated in pixels in a vertical direction; a pair of first horizontal transfer parts 104a and 104b; a pair of second horizontal transfer parts 105a and 105b; and output circuits 106 to 109 for reading out horizontally transferred signal charges to the outside. Transfer directions of pixel signals in second sections P2a and P2b out of first areas A1a and A1b are switched to a direction of the first horizontal transfer parts 104a and 104b or the second horizontal transfer parts 105a and 105b, so that image areas outputted from the output circuits 106 to 109 can be changed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT