Solid-state imaging device including noise subtraction with polarity

Abstract

A solid-state imaging device comprises a number of photodiodes arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns, a first output circuit for sequentially reading out signal charges from those photodiodes which are arrayed on odd-numbered horizontal rows, a second output circuit for sequentially reading out signal charges from the photodiodes arrayed on the even-numbered horizontal rows, a synchronizing pulse generator for synchronizing operation of the first and second output circuits, a first subtracting circuit for determining the difference between the output signals of the first and second output circuits in odd-numbered field, and a second subtracting circuit for determining the difference between the output signals of the first and second output circuits in even-numbered field. The outputs of the first and second subtracting circuit are alternately extracted in synchronism with the synchronizing pulse produced by the synchronizing pulse generator. The solid-state imaging device is made immune to the smear phenomenon. The invention can be advantageously applied to the solid-state imaging device of CCD type as well as MOS type.