Patent ID: 8125551
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising: a photoelectric converting unit having a plurality of pixels, disposed in a two-dimensional array; a vertical signal line disposed for each pixel column of said photoelectric converting unit; a column unit disposed at an output of said vertical signal line, for sequentially storing the pixel signal of each pixel read by said vertical signal line; and an output unit for sequentially reading the pixel signals stored in said column unit and outputting a corresponding signal; wherein said column unit has a means for controlling amplification of the pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis in order to provide an output; wherein said column unit includes a detecting circuit for detecting the level of the pixel signal output from said vertical signal line and then classifying the level into a predetermined level range; and an amplifying circuit for amplifying the pixel signal output from said vertical signal line; and wherein a division signal from said detecting circuit is output from the column unit.