Patent ID: 9036062
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image pickup device, comprising: comparators provided so as to correspond to pixel columns, respectively, for a pixel array portion having unit pixels, including respective photo-electric conversion elements disposed in a matrix, each of said comparators serving to compare an analog signal output from a corresponding one of said unit pixels through a corresponding one of vertical signal lines with a ramp-like reference signal, for outputting a comparison result; counters each of which serves to carry out a counting operation for outputting the resulting count value as a digital signal corresponding to a size of the corresponding one of the analog signals; and a control portion for carrying out control in such a way that in an addition mode, at least two comparators and two counters operate in conjunction with addition control circuitry to add two pixel signals in a horizontal direction, and further wherein the addition control circuitry operates to selectively add a predetermined digital value to a count value of at least one of the counters depending on an output state of the comparators.