IP Library Granted Patent US 8,018,511
Granted Patent B2
US 8,018,511 · App. 12/161,612 · Granted Sep 13, 2011

Solid-state imaging device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,018,511
App. No.
12/161,612
Granted
Sep 13, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to the present invention, as a structure of a pixel section ( 10 ), in each of columns from a first to a m-th column, a plurality of pixel signals outputted from a plurality of pixels arranged in a column direction are transmitted, respectively, to a plurality of output signal lines ( 15 l to 15 n ) different from each other. Then, a read control and are set control are simultaneously executed on the plurality of pixels.

Claims (17)

1. A solid-state imaging device which reads, in a predetermined order, signal electric charges generated in a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and outputs the read electric charges, said solid-state imaging device comprises:

the plurality of pixels;

a plurality of horizontal reset control signal lines; and

a plurality of horizontal transfer control signal lines, wherein

each pixel comprises:

a photodiode for generating the signal electric charges;

a transfer transistor for transferring the signal electric charges generated in the photodiode to a signal accumulation section in accordance with a transfer control signal;

a reset transistor for controlling a potential of the signal accumulation section in accordance with a reset control signal; and

an amplify transistor for amplifying the signal electric charges having been transferred to the signal accumulation section and outputting, as a pixel signal, the amplified signal electric charges to one of a plurality of output signal lines, wherein

in each column, each output of n pixels arranged in a column direction is respectively connected to a different one of the plurality of output signal lines,

one of the plurality of horizontal reset control signal lines and one of the plurality of horizontal transfer signal lines are disposed between a first row of the plurality of pixels and a second row of the plurality of pixels, where the first row and the second row are adjacent to each other,

the one of the plurality of horizontal transfer control signal lines is connected to at least one of the transfer transistor of the first row and at least one of the transfer transistor of the second row, and

the one of the plurality of horizontal reset control signal lines is connected to at least one of the reset transistor of the first row and at least one of the reset transistor of the second row.

2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

a signal processing is executed at the same timing on a plurality of the pixel signals, whose number is equal to or greater than n, and which are outputted from the plurality of pixels, after passing through a plurality of the output signal lines, whose number is equal to or greater than n, and which are different from each other.

3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

by using a structure in which a plurality of the pixel signals outputted from the plurality of pixels arranged in the column direction (vertical direction) are respectively transmitted to the plurality of output signal lines different from each other, a read control and a reset control are simultaneously executed on the plurality of pixels.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 052755/0917 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 3, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021779/0851 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2008
From: SOWA, TAKESHI; HARA, KUNIHIKO; INAGAKI, MAKOTO; MATSUNAGA, YOSHIYUKI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 021641/0933 →