Patent ID: 8154638
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: H03K,H03M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit which includes a plurality of pixels each of which includes a photoelectric conversion element generating and outputting a pixel signal according to a magnitude of an incident electromagnetic wave; a frequency converting unit which includes a connection circuit for connecting a plurality of inverting circuits in a ring shape through which a delay time between an input signal and an output signal is changed according to a magnitude of the pixel signal, and one or a plurality of switch elements which are connected between an output terminal of the inverting circuit and an input terminal of another inverting circuit not adjacent to the inverting circuit, the frequency converting unit generating a clock signal having a frequency according to the connection circuit; a control unit which controls the switch elements included in the frequency converting unit to open and close; and a count unit which counts the clock signal generated by the frequency converting unit, wherein the control unit controls the switch elements to open and close according to the magnitude of the pixel signal.