Patent ID: 7394492

Claim:
A solid state image pickup device, comprising: an arrangement of a plurality of pixels, each pixel of which includes a photo diode configured to accumulate a signal charge generated by incident light, an amplification transistor whose control electrode receives the signal charge from the photo diode, the amplification transistor being configured to output an amplification signal corresponding to the signal charge to a signal output line, a reset transistor configured to reset the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and a transfer transistor configured to transfer the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode to the control electrode of the amplification transistor; a control transistor configured to switch a connection between the signal output line and a power source terminal configured to supply a potential to the signal output line; and a constant current transistor provided on the signal output line, such that the constant current transistor and the amplification transistor form a source follower, wherein the potential supplied by the power source terminal is of a polarity opposite to a polarity of a potential of a control terminal of the amplification transistor when outputting the amplification signal after a resetting of the control electrode of the amplification transistor, and wherein, during a first period in which the control transistor is turned on, the transfer transistor is turned on after the resetting of the control terminal of the amplification transistor.