Patent ID: 7075050
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: G01J,H04N

Abstract:
1. A photodetector, comprising: a photodetection element for outputting electric charge in an amount corresponding to incident light intensity; an integration circuit having: wherein when the k-th capacitance value among said first through K-th capacitance values is denoted by Cf said photodetector further comprises: a storage section which is provided with first through K-th storage regions and storage region switching means for switching the region into any one of these regions, and which stores the digital value output from said A/D converter circuit, into any storage region switched into and selected from said first through K-th storage regions by said storage region switching means; and controlling means which controls said capacitance value switching means of said integration circuit, said reference voltage switching means of said A/D converter circuit, and said storage region switching means of said storage section, so as to set the capacitance value of said integration capacitance section of said integration circuit to be the k-th capacitance value Cf