Patent ID: 7679663
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A photodetection apparatus comprising: a pixel section comprising a photodiode for generating electric charge of an amount corresponding to incident light intensity, a first capacitance section for accumulating the electric charge generated by the photodiode, a second capacitance section having a larger charge accumulation capacitance than the first capacitance section and accumulating the electric charge generated by the photodiode, first transfer means comprising a first transistor that is coupled between the photodiode and the first capacitance section for transferring the electric charge generated by the photodiode to the first capacitance section, second transfer means comprising a second transistor that is coupled between the photodiode and the second capacitance section for transferring the electric charge generated by the photodiode to the second capacitance section, an amplification transistor having a gate terminal which is connected to the first capacitance section and which outputs a voltage value corresponding to the amount of electric charge accumulated in the first capacitance section, first output means for selectively outputting the voltage value outputted from the amplification transistor, second output means for selectively outputting the electric charge accumulated in each of the first capacitance section and the second capacitance section, and initializing means for initializing the electric charge of each of the first capacitance section and the second capacitance section to an initialization state; a first signal processing section having a voltage hold section for receiving the voltage value outputted by the first output means of the pixel section, at least one voltage follower circuit that receives the voltage value output by the voltage hold section, and a subtraction circuit that receives the voltage value output by the at least one voltage follower circuit and outputs a first voltage value corresponding to the voltage value; and a second signal processing section having an integration circuit for receiving the electric charge amount outputted by the second output means of the pixel section, a correlated double sampling circuit that receives a voltage value output by the integration circuit, and a hold circuit that receives a voltage value output by the correlated double sampling circuit and outputs a second voltage value corresponding to the electric charge amount.