Patent ID: 7218346
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: G11C,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for driving a solid-state image pickup device which stores, in a plurality of photo-electric conversion units, signal charges corresponding to an incident light during a prescribed time period, each of said photo-electric conversion units being provided with an overflow drain (OFD) structure, excludes surplus charges from said photo-electric conversion units by an electric potential barrier, said electric potential barrier being maintained at a first level between said OFD structure and each of said photo-electric conversion units during said prescribed time period, reads out, after cutting off said incident light by a cut-off means such as a mechanical shutter, said signal charges by grouping said photo-electric conversion units into a prescribed number of regions, and outputs image signal from all of the photo-electric conversion units by repeating the read-out procedures, said read-out procedures being carried out during a time period other than said prescribed time period, said read-out procedures comprising the steps of: cutting off said incident light; raising up said electric potential barrier to a higher level than said first level after said cutting off of said incident light; and starting reading out said signal charges.