SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT AND ITS PIXEL SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid-state image pickup element and its pixel signal processing method which can improve the amplification factor (sensitivity) of pixels while the linearity of a current-voltage converting circuit is maintained. SOLUTION: A CMOS type image pickup element of a current output system which outputs a pixel signal from each pixel 11 as a signal current to a vertical signal line 19 is provided with a current mirror circuit 23 between a horizontal signal line 20 and the input of the current-voltage converting circuit 24 to independently control the potentials of the vertical signal line 19 and horizontal signal line 20 and the input voltage of the current-voltage converting circuit 24, and then the potentials of the signal lines 19 and 20 are lowered to apply a large voltage to the amplifying transistor 13 for the pixel.