Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, and electronic apparatus
First Claim
1. A solid-state imaging device comprisinga pixel including:
- a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate and accumulate signal charge by receiving light having entered the pixel and photoelectrically converting the light;
a first floating diffusion configured to retain the signal 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 signal 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 of an output end of the first output transistor,wherein the first voltage control transistor is coupled to a first node that is between the first output transistor and the first select transistor, 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.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A solid-state imaging device comprising
a pixel including: -
a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate and accumulate signal charge by receiving light having entered the pixel and photoelectrically converting the light; a first floating diffusion configured to retain the signal 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 signal 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 of an output end of the first output transistor, wherein the first voltage control transistor is coupled to a first node that is between the first output transistor and the first select transistor, 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 a solid-state 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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the first photoelectric conversion unit generating and accumulating signal charge by receiving light having entered the pixel and photoelectrically converting the light; the first floating diffusion retaining the signal charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit; the first select transistor controlling selecting of the pixel according to a first selection signal; the first output transistor outputting the signal charge in the first floating diffusion as a pixel signal when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor; and the first voltage control transistor controlling a voltage of an output end of the first output transistor according to a second selection signal; and a drive circuit applying 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 signal charge.
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19. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a solid-state imaging device including a pixel, the pixel including; a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate and accumulate signal charge by receiving light having entered the pixel and photoelectrically converting the light; a first floating diffusion configured to retain the signal 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 signal charge in the first floating diffusion as a pixel signal when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor; a first voltage control transistor configured to control a voltage of an output end of the first output transistor; and wherein the first voltage control transistor is coupled to a first node that is between the first output transistor and the first select transistor, and wherein the first output transistor and the first voltage control transistor have a same channel type. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification