Patent ID: 7741593
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A photoelectric conversion device in which photoelectric conversion units, charge-voltage converters, transfer units, and output units are two-dimensionally arrayed, each of the charge-voltage converters converting charges into a voltage, each of the transfer units transferring charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge-voltage converter, each of the output units outputting, to a signal line, signals corresponding to the voltage converted by the charge-voltage converter, and, in the device, for CDS processing, a first signal being output to the signal line while the charge-voltage converter has been reset, and a second signal being output to the signal line while the transfer unit has transferred charges in the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge-voltage converter, the device comprising: a clipping unit including a MOS transistor with a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the signal line, and the other one of the source and the drain being connected to a power supply, and the clipping unit clipping an electric potential of the signal line to an electric potential corresponding to an electric potential of the one; a holding capacitance device, which includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being connected to a gate of the MOS transistor, and the holding capacitance device holding at least a voltage transferred to the signal line while the charge- voltage converter has been reset; and a shift unit, which shifts an electric potential of the second electrode in a direction such that the electric potential of the second electrode comes close to a level to be transferred to the signal line while the charge-voltage converter has been reset.