Patent ID: 9088738
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising an image pickup area, on a semiconductor substrate, which includes plural columns of pixels, and plural column amplifier circuits each provided at each column of pixels or at every plural columns of pixels, wherein: the pixel outputs a signal, each of the column amplifier circuits includes at least two amplifier circuit stages; a preceding amplifier circuit has an inverting input node and an output node, and is configured to output a first amplified signal from the output node, wherein the first amplified signal is a signal in which the signal output from the pixel is input in the inverting input node, and amplified in a first gain selected from variable-gains having one or more values, a subsequent amplifier circuit has a non-inverting input node, an inverting node and an output node, and is configured to output a second amplified signal from the output node, wherein the second amplified signal is a signal in which the first amplified signal output from the preceding amplifier circuit is input in the non-inverting input node of the subsequent amplifier circuit, and amplified in a second gain selected from variable gains having one or more values; and while the output node and the inverting input node of the preceding amplifier circuit are connected, a reference potential is supplied to the non-inverting input node of the subsequent amplifier circuit, and the output node and the inverting input node of the subsequent amplifier circuit are connected.