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Solid state imaging apparatus, method for driving the same and camera using the same

DC
  • US 8,084,796 B2
  • Filed: 09/02/2008
  • Issued: 12/27/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A solid state imaging apparatus comprising:

  • a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array;

    a plurality of floating diffusion sections each being connected to ones of the plurality of photodiodes via each of a plurality of transfer transistors;

    a plurality of read-out lines each being selectively connected to at least two of the plurality of transfer transistors;

    a plurality of pixel amplifier transistors each detecting and outputting the potential of each of the plurality of floating diffusion sections; and

    a plurality of power supply lines applying voltage to drain sections of the pixel amplifier transistors, whereinthe plurality of photodiodes includes a first photodiode and a second photodiode,the plurality of read-out lines includes a first read-out line and a second read-out line,the plurality of transfer transistors includes a first transfer transistor and a second transfer transistor,the first photodiode is in row n, where n is a positive integer,the second photodiode is in row n+1,the first and the second photodiodes are in the same column,one of the plurality of floating diffusion sections is connected to the first photodiode via the first transfer transistor and is connected to the second photodiode via the second transfer transistor,the plurality of read-out lines are disposed between the first and the second photodiodes,the first read-out line is connected to a gate of the first transfer transistor,the second read-out line is connected to a gate of the second transfer transistor, andthe plurality of read-out lines and one of the plurality of power supply lines intersect with each other.

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