Patent ID: 9456161
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: H01L,H04N

Claim Text:
1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising: a first pixel and a second pixel each having wherein the photoelectric conversion apparatus performs a first operation in which, in the first pixel, the first transfer gate is turned on to transfer the charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element to the input node, a signal based on the charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element is output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus, the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate are turned on while the charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element and transferred to the input node is retained in the input node to transfer the charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element to the input node, and a signal based on the charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element is output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus; and the photoelectric conversion apparatus performs a second operation in which, in the second pixel, the first transfer gate is turned on to transfer the charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element to the input node, a signal based on the charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element is not output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus, the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate are turned on while the charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element and transferred to the input node is retained in the input node to transfer the charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element to the input node, and a signal based on the charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element is output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus.