Solid state image pickup apparatus and driving method

A solid state image pickup apparatus, comprising:

• pixels, each of said pixels being composed of a photoelectric transducer element having a function of amplification;
• and
• fixed-pattern-noise suppression basic cells, each of said cells comprising:
• an inverting amplifier;
• an input capacitor connected between the output of said pixel and the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a reset switching element for supplying an initial voltage to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a first feedback capacitor, one node of said feedback capacitor being connected to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a first feedback switching element connected between the other node of said first feedback capacitor and the output of said inverting amplifier;
• a first switching element for supplying a reference voltage, connected between a reference voltage source and a node connecting the said first feedback capacitor and said first feedback switching element;
• a second feedback capacitor, one node of said feedback capacitor being connected to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a second feedback switching element connected between the other node of said second feedback capacitor and the output of said inverting amplifier;
• a second switching element for supplying a reference voltage, connected between said reference voltage source and a node connecting the said second feedback capacitor and said second feedback switching element;
• whereby the fixed pattern noise caused by the offset variation of the pixels composed of a photoelectric transducer element is suppressed, and output gain can be controlled.

A method for driving a solid state image pickup apparatus, said solid state image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a pixel array composed of pixels, each of said pixels being composed of a photoelectric transducer element having a function of amplification, said pixels being arranged in two-dimensional form;
• and
• fixed-pattern-noise suppression basic cells, one of said basic cells being provided for every column of said pixel array, each of said cells comprising:
• an inverting amplifier;
• an input capacitor connected between a vertical signal line provided for every column and the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a reset switching element for supplying an initial voltage to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a feedback capacitor, one node of said feedback capacitor being connected to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a feedback switching element connected between the other node of said feedback capacitor and the output of said inverting amplifier;
• and
• a switching element for supplying a reference voltage, connected between a reference voltage source and a node connecting the said feedback capacitor and the feedback switching element;
• said method for driving said solid state image pickup apparatus comprising steps of:
• turning on both of said reset switching element and said switching element for supplying a reference voltage;
• and turning off said feedback switching element;
• then reading out signal output of pixels of a selected row of said pixel array;
• then turning off both of said reset switching element and said switching element for supplying a reference voltage;
• and turning on said feedback switching element;
• then resetting the charges stored in the pixels of the selected row of said pixel array;
• and
• then reading out the output voltage of the basic cell;
• whereby the output containing suppressed fixed pattern noise is obtained.

A method for driving a solid state image pickup apparatus, said solid state image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a pixel array composed of pixels, each of said pixels being composed of a photoelectric transducer element having a function of amplification, said pixels being arranged in one-dimensional or two-dimensional form;
• and
• fixed-pattern-noise suppression basic cells, one of said basic cells being provided for every pixel of said pixel array, each of said cells comprising:
• an inverting amplifier;
• an input capacitor connected between the output of a pixel and the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a reset switching element for supplying an initial voltage to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a feedback capacitor, one node of said feedback capacitor being connected to the input of said inverting amplifier;
• a feedback switching element connected between the other node of said feedback capacitor and the output of said inverting amplifier;
• and
• a switching element for supplying a reference voltage, connected between a reference voltage source and a node connecting the said feedback capacitor and the feedback switching element;
• said method for driving said solid state image pickup apparatus comprising steps of:
• turning on both of said reset switching element and said switching element for supplying a reference voltage;
• and turning off said feedback switching element;
• then resetting a pixel;
• then turning off both of said reset switching element and said switching element for supplying a reference voltage;
• and turning on said feedback switching element;
• then performing integration of the pixel;
• and
• after a predetermined period elapsed, reading out the output voltage of the basic cell;
• whereby the output containing suppressed fixed pattern noise is obtained.