Patent ID: 7629568
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a plurality of signal lines to which signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output; a signal storage group including signal storage devices configured to store the signals output to the signal lines, wherein the signal storage group is grouped into a first signal storage block that includes signal storage devices storing signals based on electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion elements and a second signal storage block that includes signal storage devices storing noise signals superimposed on the signals based on the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion elements; a plurality of common signal lines to which the signals in the signal storage group are output; a plurality of block lines to which the signals from the signal storage devices included in each block are read out; a plurality of switches used to transfer the signals read out from the plurality of block lines to corresponding ones of the plurality of common signal lines; and a reset unit configured to reset a voltage of the plurality of common signal lines to a reset voltage, wherein the plurality of block lines includes a first block line to which signals from the signal storage devices in the first signal storage block are output and a second block line to which signals from the signal storage devices in the second signal storage block are output, wherein the plurality of common signal lines includes a first common signal line to which the signals from the first block line are output and a second common signal line to which the signals from the second block line are output, wherein the plurality of switches includes a first switch with which the first block line is connected to the first common signal line and a second switch with which the second block line is connected to the second common signal line, and wherein the photoelectric conversion apparatus further includes a switch used to control a connection between the first block line and the second block line.