Patent ID: 8115850
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged two dimensionally wherein each of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element for generating a pixel signal by photoelectric conversion; a plurality of color filters of a plurality of colors arranged above the photoelectric conversion elements; a row selecting unit for selecting a row of the pixels; a signal line to which the pixel signal is output from the pixels of the row selected by the row selecting unit; a plurality of capacitors for accumulating the pixel signal output to the signal line; and a plurality of selecting switches each connected between the signal line and corresponding one of the plurality of capacitors, wherein, during a first adding operation, the row selecting unit selects a plurality of rows of the pixels successively and the selecting switches are controlled to accumulate, in a part of the plurality of capacitors, each of the pixel signals from the pixels, with which the color filters of the same color are associated, thereafter, the selecting switch operates to add, on the signal line, the pixel signals accumulated in the part of the plurality of capacitors, during a second adding operation after the first adding operation, the row selecting unit selects another plurality of rows of the pixels successively and the selecting switches are controlled to accumulate, in a part of the plurality of capacitors, each of the pixel signals from the pixels, with which the color filters of the same color are associated, thereafter, the selecting switch operates to add, on the signal line, the pixel signals accumulated in the part of the plurality of capacitors, and, during the first adding operation, the row selecting unit controls the selecting switches to add, on the signal line, the pixel signals accumulated in the part of the plurality of capacitors, while, during the second adding operation, the row selecting unit controls the selecting switches to add the pixel signals accumulated in the other part of the plurality of capacitors with the pixel signals from the pixels of a row different from the row of the pixels of which pixel signals are added in the first adding operation.