Patent ID: 8040414
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: H03M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging device comprising: a pixel region having a plurality of pixel cells arranged in an array, each of the pixel cells including an optoelectronic conversion element; a pixel cell selection circuit for selecting pixel cells in the pixel region; a plurality of vertical signal lines to which signals at pixel cells selected by the pixel cell selection circuit are read; and an A/D converter for A/D-converting signals read to the vertical signal lines, wherein the solid-state imaging device further comprises: a first node for receiving a first signal inputted from outside the solid-state imaging device; a second node for receiving a second signal inputted from outside the solid-state imaging device; a test signal selection circuit for outputting the first signal received at the first node and the second signal received at the second node as a test signal by switching between the first signal and the second signal at desired timing; and a test signal input circuit for supplying the test signal from the test signal selection circuit to an input of the A/D converter, the first signal is a signal corresponding to a pixel reset signal level supplied from the pixel cells to the A/D converter via the vertical signal lines when the pixel cells are reset, and the second signal is a signal corresponding to a pixel signal level supplied from the pixel cells to the A/D converter via the vertical signal lines when charges stored in the optoelectronic conversion elements of the pixel cells are read from the optoelectronic conversion elements.