The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 03, 2004
Takashi Takamura, Chino, JP;
Takashi Takamura, Chino, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The invention provides a solid-state imaging device including a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. The pixels can each include a photo diode that generates carriers depending on the intensity of incident light, an accumulation region that accumulates the generated holes, an output transistor that outputs a signal according to threshold voltage that changes depending on the number of carriers accumulated in the accumulation region, and a clear transistor that discharges carriers accumulated in the accumulation region. One of semiconductor regions that form the photo diode and the accumulation region function as a source region of the clear transistor. In the accumulation period, if generated carriers spill from the source region of the clear transistor in the accumulation period, the clear transistor discharges the spilled carriers through a channel of the clear transistor in order to prevent the spilled carriers from entering the accumulation region of adjacent pixels. Accordingly, a technique where carriers in an accumulation region can be easily discharged.