SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend dynamic range without complicating control of a pixel circuit or arithmetic processing at a stage subsequent to the pixel circuit in a simple pixel circuit configuration.

SOLUTION: A transfer circuit 20 is configured to transfer signal charges of an accumulating region 15 to a floating diffusion region 30 when in operation, and to interrupt the transfer of the signal charges when not in operation by means of a transfer gate 21 which is turned on and off in response to a transfer control signal TG. The transfer circuit 20 operates for a complete transfer period necessary for transferring a maximum signal charge accumulation amount in the accumulating region 15 and continues the operation for a first period even after the lapse of the complete transfer period. A capacity value of the floating diffusion region 30 is equal to or larger than a sum of a first capacity value necessary for accepting the maximum signal charge accumulation amount and a second capacity value necessary for accepting signal charges generated from a photodiode 10 in the first period.

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