Patent ID: 8773552

Claim:
A solid state imaging device comprising: pixels that output photoelectrically converted signals and are arranged two-dimensionally; a reference ramp generating circuit that generates a plurality of ramp waves for use in an AD conversion of pixel signals output from the pixels; a plurality of comparator circuits, each being arranged in a column and comparing the pixel signal received by one input terminal with the ramp wave received by another input terminal; a counter circuit that converts a change in an output signal of the comparator circuit into a digital value; and a ramp wave selection circuit and a ramp wave selection control circuit that select a plurality of ramp waves to be supplied to the comparator circuits, a column ADC circuit which performs an AD conversion by using only the second ramp wave or by switching between the first ramp wave and the second ramp wave in accordance with the signal level of the signal output from the pixel, wherein the ramp wave selection control circuit includes a first pulse generating unit which controls the ramp wave selection circuit according to the level of the pixel signal, wherein the reference ramp generating circuit includes: a first ramp wave generating circuit that generates a first ramp wave; and a second ramp wave generating circuit that generates a second ramp wave having a step width smaller than that of the first ramp wave, and wherein the column ADC circuit performs the AD conversion by switching between the first ramp wave and the second ramp wave in a case where the signal level of the signal output from the pixel exceeds a predetermined value, but performs the AD conversion by selecting only the second ramp wave in a case where the signal level of the signal output from the pixel is equal to or less than the predetermined value.