Solid-state imaging device, optical sensor and method of operating solid-state imaging device

摘要

A solid-state imaging device and an optical sensor, which can enhance a wide dynamic range while keeping a high sensitivity with a high S/N ratio, and a method of operating a solid-state imaging device for enhancing a wide dynamic range while keeping a high sensitivity with a high S/N ratio are disclosed. An array of integrated pixels has a structure wherein each pixel comprises a photodiode PD for receiving light and generating and accumulating photoelectric charges and a storage capacitor element CS coupled to the photodiode PD through a transfer transistor Tr1 for accumulating the photoelectric charges overflowing from the photodiode PD. The storage capacitor element CS is structured to accumulate the photoelectric charges overflowing from the photodiode PD in a storage-capacitor-element accumulation period TCS that is set to be a period at a predetermined ratio with respect to an accumulation period of the photodiode PD.