Patent ID: 9224767
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for driving a photoelectric conversion apparatus including a first pixel, the first pixel including a photoelectric conversion unit configured to accumulate charge; a first holding unit configured to hold the charge; a second holding unit configured to hold the charge; a first transfer unit configured to transfer the charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the first holding unit; a second transfer unit configured to transfer the charge from the first holding unit to the second holding unit; and a third transfer unit configured to electrically connect the photoelectric conversion unit and a power supply, the method comprising: a first controlling step of controlling the first and third transfer units to form a potential barrier in the first transfer unit and a potential barrier in the third transfer unit against the charge in the photoelectric conversion unit when accumulating charge in the photoelectric conversion unit, wherein the potential barrier in the first transfer unit is lower than the potential barrier in the third transfer unit, after the first controlling step, a second controlling step of controlling the first, second and third transfer units so that: a potential barrier in the third transfer unit is formed; a potential in the first transfer unit for the charge is lower than a potential in the photoelectric conversion unit; and a potential in the second transfer unit is lower than the potential in the first transfer unit while a potential in the third transfer unit is higher than the potential in the first transfer unit, and after the second controlling step, a third controlling step of controlling the third transfer unit to reset the photoelectric conversion unit and thereafter to form a potential barrier in the third transfer unit.