Patent ID: 8367998

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a charge pump circuit which supplies a plurality of signals including a first signal a second signal and a third signal, each signal having sequentially decreasing voltage levels; a reset transistor having a drain and a gate connected with the charge pump circuit to form a diode connection and which receives the plurality of signals; a photodiode which generates photocharges; a transfer transistor which forms a series connection between the photodiode and the reset transistor; a floating diffusion region which forms a parallel connection between the transfer transistor and the reset transistor and which stores the photocharges; and a drive transistor connected with the floating diffusion region, the reset transistor, a power supply voltage terminal and a unit pixel output terminal, wherein a gate of the transfer transistor receives a turn-off voltage if the first or second signal is supplied, and receives one of a turn-off voltage and a turn-on voltage if the third signal is supplied.