Patent ID: 6822682
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
A solid state image pickup device comprising:a plurality of pixel groups disposed on a two-dimensional plane defined by horizontal and vertical directions, said plurality of pixel groups being juxtaposed in the horizontal direction, each of said pixel groups including a first pixel column and a second pixel column, the first pixel column including a plurality of pixels regularly disposed at a first pixel pitch in the vertical direction, the second pixel column including a plurality of pixels regularly disposed at the first pixel pitch and displaced by half the first pixel pitch in the vertical direction relative to the first pixel column, the second pixel columns being disposed in the horizontal direction an intermediate position of adjacent first pixel columns of said pixel groups; a first separation region formed between adjacent ones of said pixel groups; a single vertical charge transfer path extending in the vertical direction and weaving between the first and second pixel columns of each of said pixel groups; a first read gate disposed between each pixel in said first pixel column and said vertical charge transfer path; a second read gate disposed between each pixel in said second pixel column and said vertical charge transfer path; and a horizontal charge transfer path formed at one end of a plurality of said vertical charge transfer paths for receiving electric charges transferred from said vertical charge transfer paths and transferring the electric charges in the horizontal direction.