US Patent 7595827 Imaging device

An imaging device comprises a photoelectric conversion element; first, second, and third capacitors; first, second, third, and fourth charge transfer elements; a reset element; and an amplifier element. The photoelectric conversion element generates an electrical charge according to the amount of received light. The first and second capacitors receive and store the electrical charge. The electrostatic capacity of the second capacitor is lower than that of the first capacitor. The first and second charge transfer elements transfer the electrical charge to the first and second capacitors simultaneously. The third capacitor receives the electrical charge stored in the first or second capacitor. The electrical potential of the third capacitor varies according to the received electrical charge. The third and fourth charge transfer elements transfer the electrical charge stored in the first and second capacitors to the third capacitor separately.