Patent ID: 8785870

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix, each of the plurality of pixel circuits including, a photoelectric conversion element, a sample hold circuit, an amplifier for amplifying an electric signal held by the sample hold circuit, and a switch for transferring the electrical signal amplified by the amplifier; a plurality of signal lines configured to read from the plurality of pixel circuits the electrical signal transferred by the switch; a control unit for performing a first control for transferring electrical signals in accordance with a predetermined potential supplied to the sample hold circuit to the plurality of signal lines, and a second control for sequentially transferring to the plurality of signal lines electrical signals collectively held by a plurality of sample hold circuits of the plurality of pixel circuits from a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of the plurality of pixel circuits by a plurality of switches of the plurality of pixel circuits corresponding to light received by each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, after the first control has been performed; and a generation unit configured to create image data based on the electrical signals transferred to the plurality of signal lines by the second control.