Patent attributes
A photoelectric converter capable of reducing random noise has a photoelectric conversion circuit that generates an optical signal in correspondence to incident light, a reset circuit connected to an output terminal of the photoelectric conversion circuit, and a first amplification circuit connected to output terminals of the photoelectric conversion circuit and the reset circuit. A first electric charge transfer unit has a terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplification circuit and a terminal connected to a first capacitor. Second and third electric charge transfer units have terminals connected to second and third amplification circuits and other terminals connected to second and third capacitors, and the second and third amplification circuits are connected to the first and second capacitors, respectively. A source follower amplifier has a gate connected to the third electric charge transfer unit and the third capacitor, and a channel selection circuit is connected to a source of the source follower amplifier. A common signal line is connected to an output terminal of the channel selection circuit, a first current source is connected to the common signal line, and a second current source is connected to the source of the source follower.
