Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, and electronic apparatus
First Claim
1. An imaging device, comprising:
- a pixel including;
a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert incident light into electric charge;
a first floating diffusion configured to retain the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit;
a first select transistor configured to control selecting of the pixel;
a first output transistor configured to output the electric charge in the first floating diffusion as a pixel signal when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor; and
a first voltage control transistor configured to control a voltage at an output end of the first output transistor,wherein the first voltage control transistor is coupled between a first node and a second node, the first node being between the first output transistor and the first select transistor, the second node being configured to receive a power supply voltage, andwherein the first output transistor and the first voltage control transistor have a same channel type.
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Abstract
The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can improve imaging quality by reducing variation in the voltage of a charge retention unit, a method of driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus.
A first photoelectric conversion unit generates and accumulates signal charge by receiving light that has entered a pixel, and photoelectrically converting the light. A first charge retention unit retains the generated signal charge. A first output transistor outputs the signal charge in the first charge retention unit as a pixel signal, when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor. A first voltage control transistor controls the voltage of the output end of the first output transistor. The present technology can be applied to pixels in solid-state imaging devices, for example.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging device, comprising:
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a pixel including; a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert incident light into electric charge; a first floating diffusion configured to retain the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit; a first select transistor configured to control selecting of the pixel; a first output transistor configured to output the electric charge in the first floating diffusion as a pixel signal when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor; and a first voltage control transistor configured to control a voltage at an output end of the first output transistor, wherein the first voltage control transistor is coupled between a first node and a second node, the first node being between the first output transistor and the first select transistor, the second node being configured to receive a power supply voltage, and wherein the first output transistor and the first voltage control transistor have a same channel type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of driving an imaging device including a pixel, the pixel including a first photoelectric conversion unit, a first floating diffusion, a first select transistor, a first output transistor, and a first voltage control transistor, the method comprising:
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generating and accumulating, by the first photoelectric conversion unit, electric charge based on incident light; retaining, by the first floating diffusion, the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit; controlling, by the first select transistor, selection of the pixel according to a first selection signal; outputting, by the first output transistor, the electric charge in the first floating diffusion as a pixel signal when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor; and controlling, by the first voltage control transistor, a voltage at an output end of the first output transistor according to a second selection signal; and applying, by a drive circuit, the first selection signal and the second selection signal to the first select transistor and the first voltage control transistor, respectively, to turn on the first select transistor and turn off the first voltage control transistor during a reset operation and a readout operation, and to turn on the first voltage control transistor and turn off the first select transistor during the accumulating the electric charge.
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19. An electronic apparatus comprising:
an imaging device including a pixel, the pixel including; a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert incident light into electric charge; a first floating diffusion configured to retain the electric charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit; a first select transistor configured to control selecting of the pixel; a first output transistor configured to output the electric charge in the first floating diffusion as a pixel signal when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor; and a first voltage control transistor configured to control a voltage at an output end of the first output transistor, wherein the first voltage control transistor is coupled between a first node and a second node, the first node being between the first output transistor and the first select transistor, the second node being configured to receive a power supply voltage, and wherein the first voltage control transistor and the first output transistor have a same channel type. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification