Patent ID: 7808536
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging device for high-speed photography, comprising an imaging element area in which a plurality of pixel portions having photodetectors for photography are disposed in a matrix form, the solid-state imaging device generating image data by capturing pixel information obtained from the photodetectors for photography, wherein the solid-state imaging device further comprises: a change detection element that detects a change in an amount of incident light, the change detection element being disposed in the imaging element area, at a predetermined position surrounding the imaging element area, or at a position related to the imaging element area while separated therefrom; and a controller that controls starting or stopping of capturing of pixel information obtained from the photodetectors for photography in accordance with a trigger signal based on a detection signal output from the change detection element, and wherein the change detection element comprises a photodetector for change detection, a storage portion for storing a signal from the photodetector for change detection and a signal processor, and the signal processor determines a difference between a level of a previous signal read from the storage portion and a level of a signal newly obtained from the photodetector for change detection, compares the difference with a threshold and outputs a result of the comparison as a detection signal.