Solid-state imaging device driving method

A method of driving a solid-state imaging device comprising:

• a photosensitive region having photosensitive cells arranged two-dimensionally in row and column directions on a semiconductor substrate, each photosensitive cell including a photodiode for accumulating a signal charge obtained by converting incoming light into electricity;
• a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photodiode;
• a floating diffusion layer portion for temporarily accumulating the transferred signal charge;
• an amplifying transistor for amplifying the signal charge accumulated in the floating diffusion layer portion;
• and a reset transistor for resetting the signal charge accumulated in the floating diffusion layer portion;
• a power supply line commonly connected to drains of the amplifying transistors;
• a vertical driver circuit for individually driving transfer transistors arranged in a same row and reset transistors arranged in the same row;
• a plurality of vertical signal lines each having commonly connected thereto corresponding amplifying transistors arranged in a same column;
• a plurality of load transistors connected to the vertical signal lines, respectively;
• a noise suppression circuit for suppressing noise of signals outputted to the vertical signal lines;
• a plurality of horizontal transistors which are arranged in the row direction, and to which outputs from the noise suppression circuit are inputted;
• and
• a horizontal driver circuit for allowing the horizontal transistors to sequentially and selectively operate, and thereby sequentially outputting the outputs from the noise suppression circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
• pulse-driving the power supply line on a per horizontal period basis;
• sequentially selecting different rows on a per horizontal period basis using the horizontal driver circuit, and allowing corresponding reset transistors and corresponding transfer transistors included in corresponding photosensitive cells arranged in a selected row to successively operate while the power supply line is driven, and thereafter allowing the corresponding reset transistors to operate while the power supply line is not driven;
• and
• sequentially outputting outputs from the noise suppression circuit on a per horizontal period basis using the horizontal driver circuit, wherein
• a low-level potential of the power supply line has a predetermined potential higher than zero potential.