Patent ID: 7646413
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging device comprising: a plurality of pixels arrayed in the horizontal and vertical directions, each of the plurality of pixels having a photoelectric converting unit and a pixel amplification unit outputting a signal based on electrical charge accumulated in the photoelectric converting unit; wherein a plurality of column amplification units corresponding to columns of the plurality of pixels; a noise removing unit for removing noise generated in the pixel; a plurality of color filters having a plurality of colors, each of the plurality of color filters being provided corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels; and an addition circuit for adding signals from which the noise is removed by the noise removing unit and outputting an additional signal, wherein the additional signal output from the addition circuit is a signal obtained by adding signals from every other pixel among the plurality of pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions, wherein centers of gravity of the signals from the pixels having the color filters of the same color are at the same pitch, and wherein the imaging device is operable at a mode in which the signals from the plurality of pixels are added and at a mode in which the signals from the plurality of pixels are not added, and wherein gain of the column amplification unit at the mode in which the signals are added is higher than the gain of the column amplification unit at the mode in which the signals from the plurality of pixels are not added.