Patent ID: 7817199

Claim:
A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising: a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged to form rows and columns, each pixel including: a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge-voltage converter configured to convert electrical charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage, a source follower transistor configured to output a signal corresponding to the voltage converted by the charge-voltage converter and to output the signal to a vertical output line, and a reset unit configured to reset the charge-voltage converter; and a clip unit configured to clip a voltage of the vertical output line, wherein the clip unit includes: a current source load connected between a power supply and a node, and configured to flow a predetermined current, a NMOS transistor that includes a gate to which a predetermined voltage is supplied, a drain connected to the node, and a source connected to the vertical output line, and a PMOS transistor that includes a gate connected to the node, a drain connected to the source of the NMOS transistor and the vertical output line, and a source connected to the power supply.