Patent ID: 6498332
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A solid-state image sensing device for sensing an input optical image, comprising:a light-receiving section in which a first number of light-receiving elements are arrayed along a first direction forming a vertical light-receiving section, each light-receiving element including a photoelectric conversion element for converting an input optical signal into a current signal and a switch element having a first terminal connected to a signal output terminal of said photoelectric conversion element and a second terminal for outputting the current signal generated by said photoelectric conversion element in accordance with a vertical scanning signal, and a second number of vertical light-receiving sections arrayed along a second direction, each vertical light-receiving section having a signal output terminal electrically connected to the second terminal of each switch element in the respective vertical light-receiving section; a second number of integration circuits each for individually receiving an output from a corresponding one of said vertical light-receiving sections and performing an integration or non-integration operation of the current signal output from said vertical light-receiving section in a first capacitive element connected between an input and output terminals in accordance with a reset instruction signal; a second number of sample-and-hold circuits each for receiving the signal output from a corresponding one of said integration circuits and performing a charge sample operation or charge hold operation for a second capacitive element in accordance with a sample instruction signal; a second number of drive circuits each for receiving the signal output from a corresponding one of said sample-and-hold circuits and controlling an output drive ability in accordance with a horizontal scanning signal; a second number of horizontal read circuits each for receiving the signal output from a corresponding one of said drive circuits and selectively outputting the received signal in accordance with the horizontal scanning signal; and a timing control section for issuing the vertical scanning signal, reset instruction signal, sample instruction signal, and horizontal scanning signal, wherein said drive circuit comprises a differential amplifier, a current controller formed from a MOSFET to control a current from a constant voltage terminal, and a drive ability control circuit, said differential amplifier is arranged while having a positive input terminal connected to an output from said sample-and-hold circuit and a negative input terminal connected to an input to said horizontal read circuit, said current controller is arranged between the constant voltage terminal and the negative input terminal of said differential amplifier while having a gate terminal connected to an output terminal of said differential amplifier, said drive ability control circuit is connected to the negative input terminal of said differential amplifier, and when the horizontal scanning signal is insignificant to disable output, the output drive ability of said drive circuit is set in a low state through said drive ability control circuit, and when the horizontal scanning signal is significant to enable output, the output drive ability is set in a high state through said drive ability control circuit.