Solid-state imaging device and control system
View Patent ↗A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region having a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate, in which each of the pixels includes a photoelectric converting portion and a charge converting portion for converting a charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a pixel signal and blooming is suppressed by controlling a substrate voltage of the semiconductor substrate.
1. A solid-state imaging device comprising:
an imaging region including a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate; wherein
each of the pixels includes a photoelectric converting portion and a charge converting portion for converting a charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a pixel signal and
brightness determination circuitry providing an output that is used for determining a voltage level applied to the semiconductor substrate, and further wherein the substrate receives a variable voltage output from a variable voltage source, the variable voltage source receiving a control signal from substrate voltage controller circuitry, the substrate voltage controller circuitry receiving a brightness signal from the brightness determination circuitry, and further wherein the brightness determination circuitry determines the voltage that is applied to the substrate based on brightness information output from automatic exposure circuitry.
2. A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein
the semiconductor substrate is a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, including a second conductive type semiconductor well region and the photoelectric converting portion is formed in the second conductive type semiconductor well region.
3. A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein
the substrate voltage is controlled in response to luminance based on the difference between a bright and dark portion.
4. A solid-state imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein
the substrate voltage is controlled in response to luminance based on the difference between a bright portion and a dark portion determined using a mean output from the whole of an effective pixel area or a mean output from a predetermined divided area obtained by dividing the effective pixel area.