Patent ID: 8717474
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: H03M,H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion element, arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; a plurality of column amplifiers, each arranged correspondingly to each of columns of the plurality of pixels and configured to output, a first pixel signal derived by amplifying by an amplifying factor p the signal from one of the pixels, and a second pixel signal derived by amplifying by an amplifying factor q the signal from the same one of the pixels, wherein the factors p and q are different from each other; a plurality of column A/D converters, each arranged correspondingly to each of columns of the plurality of pixels and configured to convert the first and second pixel signals outputted from a corresponding one of the plurality of column amplifiers; a plurality of replacing units, each arranged correspondingly to each of columns of the plurality of pixels, wherein each replacing unit selects, based on a threshold value, either of the first pixel signal converted by the corresponding column A/D converter and the second pixel signal converted by the corresponding column A/D converter; and a horizontal scanning circuit configured to sequentially select the first or second pixel signals selected by the replacing units.