Patent ID: 8913167
Filing Date: 2014-12-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplifying element configured to amplify a signal based on electrons generated in the photoelectric conversion unit, a first signal holding unit and a second signal holding unit located at a stage following the first signal holding unit, both being disposed in an electric path between the photoelectric conversion unit and an input node of the amplifying element, a first charge transfer unit configured to transfer electrons from the photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal holding unit, and a second charge transfer unit configured to transfer electrons held by the first signal holding unit to the second signal holding unit, the first charge transfer unit including a first semiconductor region and a first control electrode disposed above the first semiconductor region via an insulating film, the second charge transfer unit including a second semiconductor region and a second control electrode disposed above the second semiconductor region via an insulating film, the first control electrode and the second control electrode being supplied with voltages such that a voltage supplied to the first control electrode when the electrons are transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal holding unit is lower than a voltage supplied to the second control electrode when the electrons held by the first signal holding unit are transferred to the second signal holding unit.