Patent ID: 7671317

Claim:
A physical quantity detecting apparatus comprising: a sensitive element array in which sensitive elements for detecting physical quantity are arranged in the form of a matrix having columns; a plurality of column AD conversion circuits, each of which is provided corresponding to at least one of the columns of the sensitive elements, for converting a signal output from each of sensitive elements of said at least one of the columns into a digital signal; an output signal bus for transferring the digital signal output from the plurality of column AD conversion circuits; a clock generation circuit for supplying a counter clock signal and a latch clock signal to the plurality of column AD conversion circuits; and a DA converter for outputting a triangle wave, each of the column AD conversion circuits including: a comparator for comparing the signal output from each of the sensitive elements in a given period with potential of the triangle wave; a column counter for counting pulses of the counter clock signal and holding a counter value obtained when an output of the comparator is changed; and one or plural latches for receiving the latch clock signal and holding a value of the latch clock signal obtained when the output of the comparator is changed, and the digital signal with amplitude in accordance with an AD converted value expressed through a combination of the counter value held by the column counter and the value held by the one or plural latches being output to the output signal bus.