Image pickup device capable of adjusting the overflow level of the sensor based on the read out mode

Abstract

The driving device of a solid-state imaging device comprises a driving unit for driving the solid-state imaging device in either an addition driving mode in which a plurality of pixels are added and read as a single pixel or a non-addition driving mode, and a substrate bias voltage supply for applying a bias voltage to the substrate of the solid-state imaging device according to the driving mode. The substrate bias voltage is set according to the number of pixels added in the addition driving mode so that the overflow level of the charge accumulating portion may be lower in the addition driving mode than in the normal driving mode. This suppresses the input of excess charges to the horizontal transfer path even in the addition driving mode, thereby preventing the generation of horizontal streak noise.

1 . An image pickup device comprising: 
 a solid-state imaging element;    driving means for driving said solid-state imaging element;    substrate bias setting means for variably setting the substrate bias voltage of said solid-state imaging element; and    color correction means for subjecting an output of said solid-state imaging device to a color correction process according to said substrate bias voltage.