Patent ID: 8552354

Claim:
A solid-state image pickup element comprising: a plurality of pixel circuits; and a control circuit controlling each of said pixel circuits, wherein each of said pixel circuits includes: a light detector element generating a signal charge in response to light reception; an accumulating region accumulating the signal charges generated by said light detector element; a reset switch for electrically connecting a power supply node supplying a reset potential to said accumulating region in response to a reset signal; a floating diffusion region; and a transfer circuit configured to transfer the signal charges in said accumulating region to said floating diffusion region when being operated, while being configured to stop said transfer when not being operated, said control circuit is configured to control said transfer circuit of each said pixel circuit so as to operate said transfer circuit during a complete transfer period required for said transfer circuit to transfer a maximum signal charge accumulative quantity in said accumulating region from said accumulating region to said floating diffusion region, and so as to continue to operate said transfer circuit during a first period after said complete transfer period, said control circuit further controls said reset switch so as to keep an electrically separated condition between said floating diffusion region and said power supply node while said transfer circuit is operated, and a capacitance value of said floating diffusion region is not less than a sum of a first capacitance value required to receive said maximum signal charge accumulative quantity, and a second capacitance value required to receive said signal charge generated by said light detector element during said first period.