Patent ID: 7825974
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image sensor including a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arrayed, a vertical scanning circuit which selects a row of the pixel array, and a horizontal scanning circuit which selects a column of the pixel array, each pixel including a photo-electric converter, a transfer switch which transfers charges from the photo-electric converter to a charge-voltage conversion node, an amplifier which outputs, to a vertical signal line of a column to which the pixel belongs, a signal corresponding to the charges transferred to the charge-voltage conversion node, and a control switch which controls a voltage of the charge-voltage conversion node, the sensor comprising a voltage controller which controls the voltage of the charge-voltage conversion node of each pixel via the control switch of each pixel, wherein a voltage set at the charge-voltage conversion node by said voltage controller via the control switch includes a first voltage for setting a pixel in a selected state, and a second voltage for setting the pixel in an unselected state, and said voltage controller and the control switch of each pixel set the voltage of the charge-voltage conversion node of each pixel to the second voltage by using at least part of a horizontal scanning period.