Patent ID: 7898586
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging device comprising: at least one pixel column having a plurality of photosensitive pixels photo-electrically converting incident light; at least one shift gate arranged adjacent to the pixel column and configured to control a storage time of a signal charge generated in the photosensitive pixels based on a shift pulse signal; at least one analog shift register having a plurality of transfer stages each driven according to mutually independent drive signals, and transferring a signal charge of the photosensitive pixels transferred via the shift gate to one direction; at least one output unit arranged adjacent to an end portion of the analog shift register and configured to detect a signal charge transferred from the analog shift register to convert signal charge into an output signal; and a control signal generation circuit configured to generate the shift pulse signal and drive signals to control each operation of the shift gate and the analog shift register, wherein each of the plurality of transfer stages includes: a first transfer stage to which a plurality of signal charges from the photosensitive pixels is transferred via the shift gate, and successively these signal charges; and a second transfer stage successively transferring the signal charges transferred from the first transfer stage, wherein the first transfer stage includes a plurality of first transfer electrodes each supplied with a first drive signal generated in the control signal generation circuit; and a plurality of second transfer electrodes each arranged adjacent to a respective first transfer electrode, and supplied with a second drive signal generated in the control signal generation circuit, the second transfer stage includes a plurality of third transfer electrodes each supplied with a third drive signal generated in the control signal generation circuit; and a plurality of fourth transfer electrodes each arranged adjacent to respective third transfer electrode, and supplied with a fourth drive signal generated in the control signal generation circuit, and wherein the first and second transfer stages are configured to receive the first to fourth drive signals, and first and second read modes are controlled with the first to fourth drive signals; in the first read mode, the first transfer stage successively transfers the signal charges transferred from the photosensitive pixels to the second transfer stage via the shift gate while the second transfer stage successively transfers the signal charges transferred from the first transfer stage to the output unit; and in the second mode, the first transfer stage successively transfers the signal charges transferred from the photosensitive pixels to the second transfer stage via the shift gate while the second transfer stage successively transfers the signal charges transferred from the first transfer stage to the output unit, and when the signal charges are transferred, the signal charges of pixels are added at a position of one pair of transfer electrodes of the second transfer stage including the third and fourth electrodes existing at a position closest to the first transfer stage.