Patent ID: 8564706
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels includes: a photoelectric conversion element for converting an incident light into electric charge; an accumulating element, arranged at a location different from the photoelectric conversion element, for accumulating the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element, the accumulating element having a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type arranged in a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type; a first transfer element for transferring the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element to the accumulating element; a second transfer element for transferring the electric charge accumulated in the first semiconductor region of the accumulating element to a floating diffusion region; and an amplifying element for amplifying the electric charge in the floating diffusion region, wherein the first transfer element transfers, at a plurality of times, the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element to the accumulating element, and the accumulating element accumulates cumulatively the electric charge transferred at the plurality of times without resetting the floating diffusion region, and wherein the plurality of times of transfers performed by the first transfer element is set to a value higher than a ratio of a maximum saturation charge of the accumulating element to a maximum saturation charge of the photoelectric conversion element.