Patent ID: 8890982

Claim:
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a pixel area including a first region and a second region; the first region including a first set of pixels, each pixel of the first set of pixels including a first light reception element and at least three transistors, wherein at least one of the transistors is a discharging unit, the first light reception element being configured to receive light to generate charge as a reception light signal, the discharging unit being configured to discharge the generated charge as the reception light signal of the first light reception element; the second region including a second set of pixels, each pixel of the second set of pixels including a second light reception element that is covered with a light shielding film, wherein the second light reception element is configured to store a signal charge from the first light reception element; wherein signals stored in the second light reception elements are read to a next stage when the discharging units corresponding to the first light reception elements are enabled; and wherein the at least three transistors includes a reset transistor, a transfer transistor, and a selection transistor.