Patent ID: 7145600
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a solid-state image pickup element formed on a single semiconductor chip, said solid-state image pickup element including: photoelectric conversion units arranged two-dimensionally; a plurality of CCDs adapted to transfer charges generated by said photoelectric conversion units, each of said plurality of CCDs being arranged correspondingly to each line of photoelectric conversion units; a plurality of charge detection circuits adapted to detect the charges from said CCDs and supplying corresponding signal levels, each of said plurality of charge detection circuits being arranged correspondingly to each CCD; a plurality of A/D conversion circuits adapted to generate digital signals from the differences between the signal levels supplied by said charge detection circuits and noise levels of said photoelectric conversion units, respectively, each of said A/D conversion circuits being arranged correspondingly to each charge detection circuit; and a plurality of circuit elements, each providing a ramp-shaped reference voltage to a respective one of the plurality of charge detection circuits in response to receiving a digital signal from a respective one of said plurality of A/D conversion circuits.