US 7,271,835 B2 · Solid-state image pickup device and device driving control method for solid-state image pickup

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup device including: a plurality of unit pixels each having: a charge generating section for generating a charge, a charge storage section for storing the charge generated by the charge generating section, a transfer gate section disposed between the charge generating section and the charge storage section for transferring the charge generated by the charge generating section to the charge storage section, and a pixel signal generating section for generating a pixel signal corresponding to the charge stored in the charge storage section; an unnecessary charge discharging gate section in each the unit pixel, switchable to block a flow of an unnecessary charge that is generated in the charge generating section and does not contribute to image formation, according to height of an electric barrier; and an unnecessary charge drain section disposed on an opposite side of the unnecessary charge discharging gate section from the charge generating section for receiving the unnecessary charge swept out of the charge generating section through the unnecessary charge discharging gate section.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A solid-state image pickup device comprising:

a plurality of pixels, each pixel having at least:
a charge generating section for generating a charge,
a charge storage section for storing said charge generated by said charge generating section,
a transfer gate disposed between said charge generating section and said charge storage section, for transferring said charge generated by said charge generating section to said charge storage section, and
a pixel signal generating section for generating a pixel signal corresponding to said charge stored in said charge storage section;
an unnecessary charge discharging gate in each pixel disposed on an opposite side of said charge generating section from said charge storage section, switchable to selectively allow discharge of an unnecessary charge that is generated in said charge generating section;
and
an unnecessary charge drain section disposed on an opposite side of said unnecessary charge discharging gate from said charge generating section, for receiving said unnecessary charge.

5 more elements

A driving control method for a solid-state image pickup device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a solid-state image pickup device including a plurality of pixels, each pixel having at least:
a charge generating section for generating a charge,
a charge storage section for storing charge,
a transfer gate section disposed between said charge generating section and said charge storage section, for transferring said charge generated by said charge generating section to said charge storage section, and
a pixel signal generating section for generating a pixel signal corresponding to said charge stored in said charge storage section;
providing an unnecessary charge discharging gate section in each pixel disposed on an opposite side of said charge generating section from said charge storage section, switchable to selectively allow discharge of an unnecessary charge that is generated in said charge generating section;
providing an unnecessary charge drain section disposed on an opposite side of said unnecessary charge discharging gate section from said charge generating section, for receiving said unnecessary charge;
turning off said unnecessary charge discharging gate section during a time of charge accumulation, and
turning on said unnecessary charge discharging gate section during a period other than said time of charge accumulation.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solid-state image pickup device and device driving control method for solid-state image pickup

Life of this patent

Solid-state image pickup device and device driving control method for solid-state image pickup

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20