Patent ID: 7440018
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising: a semiconductor substrate defining a two-dimensional surface; a multiplicity of photo electric conversion elements arranged in a plurality of rows and in a plurality of lines in a light receiving region of the semiconductor substrate and each accumulating signal electric charges; a vertical electric charge transfer device having a plurality of vertical electric charge transfer channels arranged vertically between rows of the photo electric conversion elements and a plurality of transfer electrodes horizontally arranged over the vertical electric charge transfer channels, wherein the vertical electric charge transfer device transfers the signal electrical charges accumulated by the photo electric conversion elements by setting a transfer line transferring vacant signals on an up stream side in a vertical direction of every transfer line transferring the signal electrical charges; reading out parts, each corresponding to each one of the multiplicity of the photo electric conversion elements and reading out the signal electric charges accumulated in the corresponding photo electric conversion element to the vertical electric charge transfer channels adjoining in a horizontal direction; and a horizontal electric charge transfer device that horizontally transfers the signal electric charges transferred by the vertical electric charge transfer device.