Patent ID: 8013931

Claim:
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a pixel array section in which pixels are arranged in a matrix form with rows and columns, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element that converts light into electric charges, each pixel including a charge storage element to which the charges are transferred from the photoelectric conversion element and in which the charges are stored prior to read out of the pixel, wherein, the rows or columns are grouped into groups, each group having a predetermined number of two or more adjacent rows or columns for each group selected for readout of its pixels, unnecessary charges are swept out by applying a shutter pulse operation to the group before charges are transferred from the photoelectric conversion elements to the charge storage elements, and a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least one row or one column within a succeeding group adjacent to the group selected for readout of its pixels, prior to the shutter pulse for the group selected for readout of its pixels, and before a reading timing for the group selected for readout of its pixels, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels.