Patent ID: 8488037
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising: a photoelectric conversion circuit section comprising a plurality of pixel groups having a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of the pixels are arranged in a two dimensional matrix for outputting electric signals as parallel signals, through a plurality of signal wires each corresponding to each of columns of the two dimensional matrix, from the plurality of pixels, and wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element for converting light into an electric charge and a switching element for transferring an electric signal based on the electric charge; a reading circuit section for amplifying the parallel signals and reading out a serial signal converted from the parallel signals amplified, wherein the reading circuit section includes, for each of the signal wires, an amplifier for amplifying the electric signal, a transfer switch and a capacitor for sampling and holding the electric signal amplified by the amplifier, and a reading switch for reading out the electric signal from the capacitor; and a driving circuit section for controlling a turning on of the switching elements by each of the plurality of pixel groups, wherein the driving circuit section performs the turning on of the switching elements of one pixel group in the plurality of pixel groups to amplify parallel signals from the one pixel group by amplifiers within a time period when the reading circuit section performs the reading out of a serial signal for another pixel group different from the one pixel group.