Patent ID: 7277130

Claim:
An image pick up device ( 401 ) comprising a plurality of pixels, at least one pixel ( 301 ) comprising a photosensitive element ( 302 ) for converting light into an electrical charge, a charge-to-voltage conversion node ( 304 ) for converting said electrical charge into a voltage level, a transfer transistor ( 303 ) having its main conductive channel connected between said photosensitive element ( 302 ) and said charge-to-voltage conversion node ( 304 ), an amplifying transistor ( 305 ) having its control electrode connected to said charge-to-voltage conversion node ( 304 ) and its main conductive channel connected to a first external node ( 309 ) of said pixel and coupled to a second external node ( 310 ) of said pixel, and a reset transistor ( 306 ) having its main conductive channel connected between said charge-to-voltage conversion node ( 304 ) and said second external node ( 310 ), characterized in that said second external node ( 310 ) is coupled to biasing means ( 406 , 411 , 409 , 410 ) for providing at least two different voltage levels to said charge-to-voltage conversion node ( 304 ) in order to bias said amplifying transistor ( 305 ) in an off-mode and in an on-mode, respectively.