Solid state image pickup device, method of driving solid state image pickup device, and camera using the solid state image pickup device
First Claim
1. A solid state image pickup device, comprising an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode and which outputs an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor, wherein a predetermined potential is supplied to the signal output line at transfer operation for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is an amplification type solid state image pickup device capable of increasing a saturation charge amount even when an increase in circuit scale is suppressed. In a pixel of the amplification type solid state image pickup device, a power source voltage is supplied to a signal output line to change a potential of the signal output line at transfer operation that a signal charge accumulated in a photo diode is transferred to a gate of an amplification transistor. Then, a potential of an FD portion which is capacitively coupled to the signal output line and used for supplying the signal charge to the gate of the amplification transistor increases, so that the saturation charge amount can be set to a large value.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A solid state image pickup device, comprising an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode and which outputs an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor, wherein
a predetermined potential is supplied to the signal output line at transfer operation for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor.
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5. A solid state image pickup device, comprising an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode and which outputs an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor, wherein
a voltage which is to be supplied to a power source supply terminal of the amplification transistor at the reset operation for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor is different from a potential which is to be supplied to the power source supply terminal of the amplification transistor at the transfer operation for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor.
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7. A solid state image pickup device, comprising an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode and which outputs an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor, wherein
a predetermined potential is supplied to the signal output line when the transfer transistor is in an on-state.
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9. A solid state image pickup device, comprising:
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an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, a first transistor, a second transistor whose gate is connected with a cathode of the photo diode through the first transistor, whose drain is connected with a power source wiring for supplying a power source voltage, and whose source is connected with a signal output line for outputting an amplification signal, a third transistor whose drain is connected with the power source wiring and whose source is connected with the gate of the second transistor, and a first capacitor whose first electrode is connected with the gate of the second transistor and whose second electrode is connected with the signal output line; and
a fourth transistor whose drain is connected with the signal output line and whose source is connected with a power source terminal. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of driving a solid state image pickup device comprising an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode and which outputs an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor, the method comprising:
setting a potential of the signal output line at a predetermined potential at transfer operation for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor.
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12. A method of driving a solid state image pickup device comprising an arrangement of a plurality of unit pixels, each of which includes a photo diode for accumulating a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode and which outputs an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor, the method comprising:
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setting a first potential to be supplied to a power source supply terminal of the amplification transistor at reset operation for resetting the control electrode of the amplification transistor; and
setting a second potential different from the first potential, which is to be supplied to the power source supply terminal of the amplification transistor at transfer operation for transferring the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor.
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Specification