Solid state imaging device

Abstract

A solid state imaging device comprises a pixel unit, a first controller, and a second controller. The pixel unit has a two dimensional matrix of pixels and each of the pixels is arrayed in the matrix. The first controller independently controls the output unit row by row. The second controller independently controls the first reset unit row by row. The each of pixels comprises a photoelectric conversion element, a first reset unit, a charge retention unit, a transmitter, a second reset unit, and an output unit. The element converts incident light into a signal charge and accumulates the converted signal charge. The first reset unit resets the signal charge. The charge retention unit retains a signal charge output from the photoelectric conversion element. The transmitter transmits the signal charge to the charge retention unit. The second reset unit resets the signal charge. The output unit outputs a pixel signal in response to the signal charge to a vertical signal line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.