Patent ID: 7569868
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup device, comprising: a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion element converting light into charges; a transfer gate that transfers the converted charges to a floating node; a first transistor that outputs a signal based on a voltage of the floating node to a source thereof, and a second transistor that resets the voltage of the floating node; a signal line to which the first transistor is connected through the source, and to which the first transistor outputs a signal through the source; a clipping circuit including at least a third transistor having a source connected to the signal line to which the first transistor is connected through the source, and being capable of suppressing a fluctuation of a voltage of the signal line at a first voltage and a second voltage different from the first voltage, and a constant current source being capable of supplying a current from a drain to the source of the first transistor or a drain to the source of the third transistor, wherein a reset signal reading period for reading a signal based on a voltage of the floating node at the time of reset of the floating node, and a photoelectric conversion signal reading period for reading a signal based on a voltage of the floating node at the time of transferring the charges from the photoelectric conversion element to the floating node are set, the clipping circuit suppressing the fluctuation of the voltage of the signal line to the first voltage during a period of at least a part of the reset signal reading period, and suppresses the fluctuation of the voltage of the signal line to the second voltage during a period of at least a part of the photoelectric conversion signal reading period, and wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage, and the second voltage is set so as not to turn off the constant current source.