IP Library Granted Patent US 9,143,712
Granted Patent B2
US 9,143,712 · App. 13/969,097 · Granted Sep 22, 2015

Solid state imaging device, driving method of solid state imaging device, and electronic device having a driving unit so that a potential of a drain of a charge reset unit is controlled

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,143,712
App. No.
13/969,097
Granted
Sep 22, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a solid state imaging device including a photoelectric conversion unit that performs photoelectric conversion of converting incident light into charges and accumulates the charges, a charge-voltage conversion unit that converts the charges which have been subjected to the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage, a charge transfer unit that transfers charges to the charge-voltage conversion unit, a charge reset unit that resets charges of the charge-voltage conversion unit, and a driving unit that performs driving such that a potential of a drain of the charge reset unit is controlled so that the charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge-voltage conversion unit up to a saturation level, and then the photoelectric conversion unit is subject to light exposure.

Claims (24)

1. A solid state imaging device, comprising:

a photoelectric conversion unit that performs photoelectric conversion of converting incident light into charges and accumulates the charges;

a charge-voltage conversion unit that converts the charges which have been subjected to the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage;

a charge transfer unit that transfers charges to the charge-voltage conversion unit;

a charge reset unit that resets charges of the charge-voltage conversion unit; and

a driving unit that performs driving, such that a potential of a drain of the charge reset unit is controlled so that charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge-voltage conversion unit up to a saturation level, and then the photoelectric conversion unit is subject to light exposure.

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

wherein the driving unit performs driving, such that a potential of a drain of the charge reset unit is controlled so that the charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge-voltage conversion unit up to a saturation level, an intermediate potential is applied to the charge reset unit to accumulate predetermined charges in the charge-voltage conversion unit, the charge reset unit enters a non-conduction state, the charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit are transferred to the charge-voltage conversion unit, and then the photoelectric conversion unit is subjected to light exposure.

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

wherein each of the charge transfer unit and the charge reset unit forms an overflow path.

4. The solid state imaging device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the overflow path is formed by the charge transfer unit and the charge reset unit being depression type transistors.

5. The solid state imaging device according to claim 3 ,

wherein both or either of the overflow paths formed by the charge transfer unit and the charge reset unit are formed in a silicon substrate.

6. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising,

a discharging unit that is connected to the photoelectric conversion unit and discharges charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit.

7. A driving method of a solid state imaging device including a photoelectric conversion unit that performs photoelectric conversion of converting incident light into charges and accumulates the charges, a charge-voltage conversion unit that converts the charges which have been subjected to the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage, a charge transfer unit that transfers charges to the charge-voltage conversion unit, a charge reset unit that resets charges of the charge-voltage conversion unit, and a driving unit that performs driving such that a potential of a drain of the charge reset unit is controlled so that the charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge-voltage conversion unit up to a saturation level and then the photoelectric conversion unit is subject to light exposure, the driving method comprising:

performing, by the driving unit, driving such that a potential of a drain of the charge reset unit is controlled so that the charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge-voltage conversion unit up to a saturation level, and then the photoelectric conversion unit is subject to light exposure.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a photoelectric conversion unit that performs photoelectric conversion of converting incident light into charges and accumulates the charges;

a charge-voltage conversion unit that converts the charges which have been subjected to the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage;

a charge transfer unit that transfers charges to the charge-voltage conversion unit;

a charge reset unit that resets charges of the charge-voltage conversion unit; and

a driving unit that performs driving such that a potential of a drain of the charge reset unit is controlled so that the charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit and the charge-voltage conversion unit up to a saturation level, and then the photoelectric conversion unit is subject to light exposure.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040419/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2013
From: SAKANO, YORITO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031027/0804 →