Patent ID: 6356305
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
An image-pickup apparatus comprising:a plurality of photodetection portions arrayed two-dimensionally on a predetermined plane; a plurality of vertical transfer lines which are regions respectively extending adjacent to a plurality of vertical lines defined by strings of vertical components arranged along a vertical direction out of said plurality of photodetection portions and on which electrode strings for establishing potential well transferring signal charges accumulated in said plurality of photodetection portions are respectively provided; a horizontal transfer line which is a region provided along a plurality of horizontal lines defined by one row or two or more rows of horizontal components arranged along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction out of said plurality of photodetection portions; a plurality of gate structures provided adjacent to and corresponding to said plurality of photodetection portions, said plurality of gate structures transferring said signal charges accumulated in said plurality of photodetection portions; and a vertical driving control system connected to said plurality of vertical transfer lines and said plurality of gate structures, said vertical driving controlling said plurality of gate structures corresponding to said horizontal components defining a selected one of said plurality of horizontal lines and establishing said potential wells, which have a length not shorter than a width of each of said plurality of photodetection potions in the vertical direction, into said plurality of vertical transfer lines, whereby successively moving said potential wells to output ends of said plurality of vertical transfer lines over a plurality of horizontal scan periods in the vertical direction.