Patent ID: 8686339
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging device comprising a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, the pixels each including: (a) a photoelectric conversion section; (b) a transfer transistor; (c) a plurality of floating diffusion sections that receive a charge from the photoelectric conversion section through the transfer transistor; (d) a reset transistor that resets the floating diffusion sections; (e) between each floating diffusion section and a subsequent floating diffusion section as viewed from the photoelectric conversion section, a separating transistor that makes or breaks a connection between them; and (f) an amplifying transistor that outputs a signal corresponding to a potential of at least one of the floating diffusion sections, wherein, the floating diffusion section in a first stage as viewed from the photoelectric conversion section is reset via the reset transistor, and an output of the floating diffusion section in the first stage is taken in by a subsequent stage circuit, a charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion section through the transfer transistor to the floating diffusion section in the first stage, and an output of the floating diffusion section in the first stage, with the floating diffusion section in the first stage including the charge, is taken in by the subsequent stage circuit, when the separating transistor is turned on and connects the floating diffusion section in the first stage and a floating diffusion section in a second stage as viewed from the photoelectric conversion section to each other, an output of the floating diffusion sections connected to each other is taken in by the subsequent stage circuit, a charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion section through the transfer transistor to the floating diffusion sections connected to each other, an output of the floating diffusion sections connected to each other, with the floating diffusion sections connected to each other including the charge, is taken in by the subsequent stage circuit, and a difference between (a) the output of the floating diffusion section in the first stage after the charge is transferred and (b) the output of the reset floating diffusion section in the first stage and a difference between (a) the output of the floating diffusion sections connected to each other, the floating diffusion sections connected to each other including the charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion section, and (b) the output of the floating diffusion sections connected to each other before the charge is transferred, are obtained.