Solid-state imaging device and method of operating the same, and electronic apparatus and method of operating the same
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorTakeshi Takeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts incident light into electric charge, and a charge holding element that receives the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element, and transfers the electric charge to a corresponding floating diffusion. The charge holding element further includes a plurality of electrodes.
Claims20
An imaging device, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, each including:
- a photoelectric conversion element that converts incident light into electric charge;
- and
- a charge holding element that receives the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element, and transfers the electric charge to a corresponding floating diffusion,
- wherein, for each of the plurality of pixels, the charge holding element includes a plurality of electrodes.
A method of driving an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels that each include a photoelectric conversion element that converts incident light into electric charge and a charge holding element that receives the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element, temporarily holds the electric charge, and transfers the electric charge to a corresponding floating diffusion, where for each of the plurality of pixels, the charge holding element includes a plurality of electrodes, the method comprising:
- causing the charge holding element of a given pixel of the plurality of pixels to transfer the electric charge held therein to the corresponding floating diffusion by sequentially turning off the plurality of electrodes of the charge holding element of the given pixel.
An electronic apparatus comprising an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, each including:
- a photoelectric conversion element that converts incident light into electric charge;
- and
- a charge holding element that receives the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element, and transfers the electric charge to a corresponding floating diffusion,
- wherein, for each of the plurality of pixels, the charge holding element includes a plurality of electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.