Patent ID: 8120682
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally and being provided with, for each pixel, a photoelectric converter, a signal amplifier with an input section therefor, a transfer switch for transferring an electric charge from the photoelectric converter to the input section, and a reset switch for applying a reset voltage to the input section, wherein the device is adapted to operate, for each pixel, such that: the reset switch and the transfer switch are turned on together at least in a predetermined first reset period to reset an electric charge at the photoelectric converter; then the transfer switch are turned off to store a photoelectric charge in the photoelectric converter for a predetermined storage period; then the reset switch is turned off to read out a noise component from the signal amplifier; subsequently the transfer switch is turned on at least in a predetermined transfer period while the reset switch is held in a off state to read out a light signal based on the photoelectric charge stored in the photoelectric converter from the signal amplifier; and thereafter the reset switch and the transfer switch are turned on together at least in a predetermined second reset period to reset an electric charge at the photoelectric converter and wherein the device is adapted to operate such that: electric charges at the photoelectric converters of the pixels in plural pixel rows are reset at a time in the first reset period; and electric charges at the photoelectric converters of the pixels in a pixel row are reset at a time in the second reset period.