Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Makoto Shoho

Kazuo Hashiguchi

A solid-state image capturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a pixel area in which pixels for generating a signal charge by a photoelectric conversion on an incident light are arranged in a two dimensional matrix; a row selection section for selecting each pixel row of the pixel area; a plurality of column signal lines, to which an analog pixel signal from each pixel of a pixel row selected by the row selection section is readout; and a signal processing circuit for generating a digital pixel value from the analog pixel signal of each pixel that is read out to each of the column signal lines, where the signal processing circuit includes at least two or more AD conversion circuits for simultaneously converting the analog pixel signal of each pixel of the selected pixel row into a digital pixel value.

Solid-state image capturing apparatus, driving method of a solid-state image capturing apparatus, and electronic information device

A solid-state image pickup device has a photoelectric conversion part performing photoelectric conversion on incident light, a comparison part connected to an output terminal of the photoelectric conversion part to compare an output voltage of the photoelectric conversion part with a reference voltage, a capacitive element having one end connected to the output terminal of the photoelectric conversion part, and a control line connected to the other end of the capacitive element. In a signal storage period, a first control voltage is applied to the control line so as to make an electric potential at the output terminal of the photoelectric conversion part fall outside a transition region of the comparator. In a signal read period, a second control voltage is applied to the control line so as to make the electric potential at the output terminal of the photoelectric conversion part fall within the transition region of the comparator.

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Osaka, Japan

Makoto Shoho