Patent ID: 7067785

Claim:
A solid-state image pickup device, comprising: a first MOS transistor serving as a reset switch; a second MOS transistor serving as a select switch to provide an output of the device; a photodiode; a third MOS transistor having a source connected in series with said photodiode; wherein said first and second MOS transistors are connected in series with one another between a voltage source and an output end; wherein said photodiode and said third MOS transistor are connected in series with one another between a voltage source and ground; wherein a voltage signal related to an incident light is present at a gate of said third MOS transistor when said first MOS transistor is OFF, the voltage signal including a voltage across said photodiode and a voltage between the gate and the source of said third MOS transistor; and wherein said gate is coupled to a connection point between said first and second MOS transistors.