Patent ID: 7897909
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G01J,H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A signal processing method for a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array portion constituted by arranging unit pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor for transferring signal charges obtained through photoelectric conversion in said photoelectric conversion element to a floating diffusion capacitor, a reset transistor connected between said floating diffusion capacitor and an output node, a capacitive element having a minuter capacitance than that of said floating diffusion capacitor, said capacitive element being connected between said floating diffusion capacitor and said output node, and an amplification transistor for reading out a voltage signal obtained through conversion in said capacitive element; a dummy pixel having characteristics equal to those of said unit pixel, said dummy pixel being provided every pixel column of said pixel array portion; and a differential circuit composed of said unit pixel and said dummy pixel, said signal processing method comprising the steps of: obtaining inverse numbers of outputs from said unit pixels when the same input is given to said unit pixels of said pixel array portion in a form of correction coefficients; and correcting a dispersion in sensitivity among said pixels by using the correction coefficients.