Solid-state image pickup device

A solid-state image pickup device comprising:

• a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array:
• a control circuit for generating first, second, and third control signals for controlling the a readout circuit for reading the first and second pixel signals from the pixel array in one frame;
• and
• a signal processing unit for processing signals from the readout circuit;
• wherein each pixel includes:
• a photoelectric transducer for generating an electric signal from light received thereby;
• a floating semiconductor region for accumulating a charge from the photoelectric transducer;
• a first charge transfer path extending from the photoelectric transducer to the floating semiconductor region;
• a second charge transfer path extending from the photoelectric transducer to the floating semiconductor region;
• and
• an output unit for providing a signal corresponding to a potential in the floating semiconductor region;
• wherein one of the first and second charge transfer paths includes a first shutter switch for controlling a transfer of the charge from the photoelectric transducer in response to the first control signal, a first storage diode for accumulating the charge from the photoelectric transducer, and a first transfer switch for controlling a transfer of the charge from the first storage diode to the floating semiconductor region in response to the second control signal;
• wherein the other of the first and second charge transfer paths includes a second shutter switch for controlling a transfer of the charge from the photoelectric transducer to the floating semiconductor region through no charge storage unit in response to the third control signal;
• wherein the first pixel signal corresponds to a first transfer charge transferred to the floating semiconductor region through the first charge transfer path;
• wherein the second pixel signal corresponds to a second transfer charge transferred to the floating semiconductor region through the second charge transfer path;
• wherein a first accumulation period for accumulating the charge transferred through the one charge transfer path is longer than a second accumulation period for accumulating the charge transferred through the other charge transfer path;
• wherein the signal processing unit includes a signal synthesis unit for synthesizing a synthetic image signal from the first and second pixel signals
• wherein the synthetic image signal has a dynamic range wider than that of each of the first and second image signals;
• wherein the pixel further comprises a third charge transfer path extending from the photoelectric transducer to the floating semiconductor region;
• wherein the third charge transfer path includes a third shutter switch for controlling a transfer of the charge from the photoelectric transducer in response to a fifth control signal, a third storage diode for accumulating the charge from the photoelectric transducer, and a third transfer switch for controlling a transfer of the charge from the third storage diode to the floating semiconductor region in response to a sixth control signal;
• wherein the signal processing unit reads a third pixel signal from the pixel array;
• and
• wherein the third pixel signal corresponds to the charge transferred to the floating semiconductor region through the third charge transfer path.