Patent ID: 8547463
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a solid-state imaging device having (1) an imaging region section provided with a plurality of pixels and (2) a processing circuit section for processing an image signal output from the imaging region section, each pixel of the plurality of pixels having (a) a photodiode photoelectric converting element which can generate a signal charge commensurate with a light-receiving amount, (b) a floating diffusion part which can detect an amount of a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converting element, (c) a transfer transistor which can transfer a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converting element to the floating diffusion part, and (d) a drain transistor which can drain a signal charge generated by the photoelectric converting element, the method comprising the steps of: setting both a channel potential on the drain transistor being turned on and a channel potential on the transfer transistor being turned on to a potential higher than a potential for depleting the photodiode; turning on the drain transistor and the transfer transistor; and enabling complete transfer of the signal charge of the photodiode through both the transfer transistor and the drain transistor; and starting an exposure operation on the photodiode in a course of reading of the signal charge from the floating diffusion part; wherein,