Patent ID: 6999123
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for driving a solid state image sensor that provides image signals in display image units, wherein the solid state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and having an opposite conductivity to the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor layer having a plurality of parallel channel regions arranged therein, and a plurality of transfer electrodes arranged on the semiconductor substrate each intersecting the plurality of channel regions, wherein each of the channel regions generates and accumulates information charges, the driving method comprising the steps of: storing information charges in the channel region that correspond to a transfer electrode selected by selectively activating the plurality of transfer electrodes at a predetermined timing during a vertical scanning period; transferring the stored information charges to a transfer register; deactivating the plurality of transfer electrodes; discharging, after said deactivating operation, the information charges in the channel regions toward the semiconductor substrate by keeping the plurality of transfer electrodes deactivated and increasing the potential at the semiconductor substrate; and repetitively executing the storing, transferring, deactivating, and discharging steps to continuously obtain the image signals in display image units.