Imaging device for digital camera having photodiodes disposed over light shielding membrane for sensing brightness

An imaging device for a digital camera comprising:

• plural photoelectric converting portions disposed at predetermined intervals onto an imaging surface on which an image of a subject is formed, each of said photoelectric converting portions comprising plural imaging photodiodes arranged linearly;
• plural linear transfer portions for transferring signal charge, which is charged photocurrent from each of said imaging photodiodes, each of said transfer portions arranged alternatively with each of said photoelectric converting portions;
• plural light-shielding membranes disposed over each of said transfer portions;
• and
• plural photometric photodiodes disposed over each of said light-shielding membranes.

A digital camera, comprising:

• an imaging device comprising:
• a photoelectric converting portion for photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject into a signal charge pixel by pixel;
• a transfer portion for transferring said signal charge from said photoelectric converting portion;
• light-shielding membranes for covering said transfer portion and preventing light from getting into said transfer portion;
• and
• at least one photometric photodiode disposed on an upper surface of one or more portions of said light-shielding membranes, for measuring a brightness of said image.