Patent ID: 7247828

Claim:
A semiconductor pickup device comprising a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix and each outputting a potential corresponding to intensity of light received by said pixel circuit, wherein: each said pixel circuit includes a photodiode having a cathode connected to a line of a power supply potential and an anode connected to an output node, and passing a current of a value corresponding to intensity of light received; a first p type transistor having a drain connected to said output node and a gate and a source connected to a line of a reference potential; and a reset circuit operative for said output node having a potential higher than a threshold potential predetermined between said power supply potential and said reference potential to reset in response to a reset signal input periodically as predetermined said output node to a reset potential predetermined between said threshold potential and said reference potential, and operative for said output node having said potential lower than said threshold potential to avoid resetting said output node to said reset potential in response to said reset signal received; and said output node of each said pixel circuit is reset to said reset potential with an interval time that independently varies in response to intensity of light received by said pixel circuit and is longer for smaller intensity of light received by said pixel circuit.