Amplifying solid-state imaging device

Abstract

A signal charge is transferred from a photodiode to a signal charge storage portion through a depletion mode transfer transistor. A reset transistor is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of a MOS transistor. A vertical scanning circuit always turns on the reset transistor during a non-read period of the signal charge to make short circuit between input and output of the MOS transistor, thereby stopping amplification operation of the MOS transistor. An excessive signal charge generated in the photodiode at the time of imaging a high-luminance subject is discharged to a vertical signal line through a drain path constituted of the depletion mode transfer transistor, the signal charge storage portion and the reset transistor. A switch circuit performs switchover of the vertical signal line between a reset voltage and a constant current load transistor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.