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Solid-state imaging device having photo-electric conversion elements and other circuit elements arranged to provide improved photo-sensitivity

  • US 4,942,474 A
  • Filed: 12/08/1988
  • Issued: 07/17/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A solid-state imaging device comprising:

  • a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged so as to form a two-dimensional matrix, for storing signal charges corresponding to incident light;

    a first signal line for transferring the signal charges of photoelectric conversion elements in a predetermined column, in a column direction;

    first switch means for transferring the signal charge stored in one of the photoelectric conversion elements to the first signal line, the first switch means stored in the one photoelectric conversion element into an amplified signal which is either a current signal or a voltage signal and for delivering the amplified signal to the first signal line, selection/switch means for selecting a predetermined one of the photoelectric conversion elements in the predetermined column to supply the signal charge of the selected photoelectric conversion element to the input part of the amplifier means, and reset means for resetting the electric charge in the input part of the amplifier means;

    a second signal line for transferring the signal charge which is supplied from the first signal line, to an output terminal;

    second switch means for transferring the signal charge on the first signal line to the second signal line, the second switch means being made up of a plurality of storage means for storing the output charge of the amplifier means at a time the electric charge in the input part of the amplifier means is reset by the reset means and for storing the output charge of the amplifier means at a time the signal charge of the photoelectric conversion element is applied to the amplifier means, and transfer/switch means for transferring the output charges which are stored in plural storage means, successively to the second signal line; and

    first and second scanning means for scanning each of the first and second switch means in a predetermined order.

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