Patent ID: 8294801

Claim:
A solid-state imaging device comprising: a pixel array unit having arranged unit pixels, each of which has (1) a charge generator that generates signal charges and (2) a signal output unit having a charge transfer unit for (a) transferring the signal charges generated by the charge generator and (b) generating and outputting a processing-target signal corresponding to the signal charges generated by the charge generator; a driving controller that drives the unit pixels, the driving controller sequentially driving the charge transfer unit at a plurality of different transfer driving voltage levels; and a transfer driving voltage setting unit that sets, on the basis of (1) a pixel signal based on a saturated charge amount when the charge generator is saturated and (2) a pixel signal based on an intermediate voltage retained charge amount which is retained in the charge generator after an intermediate transfer in which charge transfer is performed in a state where a transfer driving voltage level is at a level between (a) a complete transfer level which enables the saturated charge amount of the charge generator to be completely transferred to the signal output unit and (b) an off level which turns off the charge transfer unit, a level of an intermediate voltage being such that an actual intermediate voltage retained charge amount becomes an expectation value of the intermediate voltage retained charge amount.