Solid-state imaging device having photo-electric conversion elements and other circuit elements arranged to provide improved photo-sensitivity
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A solid-state imaging device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements (for example, photodiodes) arranged on a semiconductor substrate so as to form a matrix and read-out means for reading out signal charges which are stored in the photodiodes in accordance with incident light, in a predetermined order, is disclosed in which device the read-out means is made up of a plurality of active elements such as a MOS transistor connected to a photodiode, part of the active elements are used as a pixel amplifier for amplifying the signal charge of the photodiode in such a manner that the signal charge is converted into a current or voltage, the output of the pixel amplifier at a time the signal charge of the photodiode is not applied to the input part of the pixel amplifier and the output of the pixel amplifier at a time the signal charge of the photodiode is applied to the input part of the pixel amplifier are separately stored in a pair of storage means, and the outputs of a plurality of pairs of storage means are successively taken out in accordance with a scanning signal.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A solid-state imaging device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A solid-state imaging device comprising:
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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 including amplifier means for amplifying the signal charge stored in said 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, 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 output 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. 41 - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A solid-state imaging device comprising:
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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 including amplifier means for amplifying the signal charge stored in said 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, and 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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A solid-state imaging device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged so as to form a two-dimensional matrix for storing signal charges corresponding to incident light, amplifier means arranged in proximity to each of the photoelectric conversion elements for amplifying a signal charge which is stored in each photoelectric conversion element, and reset means for resetting the input of the amplifier means, wherein the output of the amplifier means at a time the input of the amplifier means is reset and the output of the amplifier means at a time the signal charge stored in the photoelectric conversion element is applied to the amplifier means, are separately stored in a pair of storage means, and the outputs of a plurality of pairs of storage means are successively scanned by scanning means.
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16. A solid-state imaging device including a plurality of light receiving elements arranged so as to form a two-dimensional matrix, for converting incident light into an electric signal and for storing the electric signal, a plurality of amplifier means each disposed in proximity to a corresponding one of the light receiving elements for amplifying an electric signal which is stored in the light receiving element, output means for scanning the amplifier signals which are produced by plural amplifier means, to successively deliver the amplifier signals, and reset means for resetting a predetermined number of light receiving elements at the same time, wherein the output means includes a plurality of columns each having a plurality of storage capacitors, and wherein amplified output charges from the plurality of the amplifier means are simultaneously stored in the storage capacitors, and then the plural columns of the storage capacitors are scanned substantially simultaneously to parallelly read out the amplified output charges stored therein, to thereby deliver the amplified output charges successively.
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17. A solid state imaging device comprising:
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a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged so as to form a two-dimensional matrix, for storing signal charges corresponding to incident light; a plurality of first signal lines each for transferring amplified signals obtained by amplifying the signal charges stored in photoelectric conversion elements disposed in a predetermined column, in a column direction; a plurality of first switch means each for transferring the signal charge stored in one of the photoelectric conversion elements to an associated first signal line, each first switch means including amplified means for amplifying the signal charge stored in the one photoelectric conversion elements into an amplified signal which is either a current signal or a voltage signal and for delivering the amplified signal to an associated first switch line, selection/switch means for selecting the one photoelectric conversion element 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; at least a second signal line for transferring the amplified signals supplied from the first signal lines to an output terminal; a plurality of second switch means each for transferring the amplified signals on an associated first signal line to the second signal line, each second switch means including a plurality of storage means for storing the amplified signals of associated amplifier means as amplified signal charges both at a time the electric charge in the input part of associated amplifier means is reset by associated reset means and at a time the signal charge of associated photoelectric conversion element is applied to the associated amplifier means, and transfer/switch means for transferring the amplified signal charges stored in said 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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A solid-state imaging device comprising:
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a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged so as to form a two-dimensional matrix, for storing signal charges corresponding to incident light; a plurality of first signal lines each transferring amplified signals obtained by amplifying the signal charges stored in photoelectric conversion elements disposed in a predetermined column, in a column direction; a plurality of first switch means each for transferring the signal charge stored in one of the photoelectric conversion means including amplifier means for amplifying the signal charge stored in said one photoelectric conversion element into an amplified signal which is either a current signal or a voltage signal and for delivering the amplified signal charge to an associated first signal line, and reset means for resetting the electric charge in the input part of the amplifier means; a second signal line for transferring the amplified signals supplied from the first signal lines, to an output terminal; a plurality of second switch means each for transferring the amplified signals on an associated first signal line to the second signal line, each second switch means including a plurality of storage means for storing the amplified signals of each associated amplifier means as amplified signal charges both at a time the electric charge in the input part of the each associated amplifier means is reset by associated reset means and at a time the signal charge of associated photoelectric conversion element is applied to the each associated amplifier means, and transfer/switch means for transferring the amplified signal charges stored in said 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. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A solid-state imaging device comprising:
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a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged so as to form a two-dimensional matrix, for storing signal charges corresponding to incident light; a plurality of first signal lines each for transferring amplified signals obtained by amplifying signal charges stored in photoelectric conversion elements disposed in a predetermined column, in a column direction; a plurality of first switch means each for transferring the signal charge stored in one of the photoelectric conversion elements to an associated first signal line, each first switch means including amplifier means for amplifying the signal charge of 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 an associated first signal line and resetting electric charge generated in the input part of the amplifier means, and selection/switch means for selecting the one photoelectric conversion element to supply the signal charge of the selected photoelectric conversion element to the input part of the amplifier means; a second signal line for transferring the signal charges supplied from the first signal lines, to an output terminal; a plurality of second switch means each for transferring the amplified signals on an associated first signal line to the second signal line, each second switch means including a plurality of storage means for storing the amplified signals of each associated amplifier means as amplified signal charge both at a time the electric charge in the input part of the each associated amplifier means is reset and at a time the signal charge of associated photoelectric conversion element is applied to the each associated amplifier means, and transfer/switch means for transferring the amplified signal charges 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. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification