Patent ID: 8035712

Claim:
A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each of the pixels converts an incident light into an analog electric signal; A/D converters each arranged corresponding to each column of the plurality of pixels, for converting the analog electric signal from the pixel into a digital signal, and for outputting the digital signal from an output terminal of the A/D converter; register circuits each arranged corresponding to each column of the plurality of pixels, for receiving by an input terminal thereof the digital signal output from the output terminal of the A/D converter, and for holding the digital signal received; and a connecting unit for connecting the output terminal of the A/D converter arranged correspondingly to one column of the pixels to the input terminal of the register circuit arranged correspondingly to the other column of the pixels different from a column of the pixel correspondingly to which the A/D converter is arranged, or for connecting the output terminal of the register circuit arranged correspondingly to one column of the pixels to the input terminal of the register circuit arranged correspondingly to the other column of the pixels different from the column of the pixels correspondingly to which the register circuit, wherein the solid-state imaging apparatus further comprises a controlling unit for controlling in a first driving mode for outputting the analog electric signal only from a part of the plurality of pixels, and for controlling in a second driving mode for outputting the analog electric signal from larger number of the pixels than in the first driving mode.