Patent ID: 8368791

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: a pixel unit wherein a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element for generating a signal by a photoelectric conversion are arranged in a matrix; a reference signal outputting unit for outputting a reference signal; a pixel signal reading unit for reading the signal of the pixel though a pixel signal switch from the pixel unit row by row, for reading the reference signal though a reference signal switch from the reference signal outputting unit, and for holding the read out signal of the pixel or the reference signal in a holding capacitor; a selection switch for successively selecting the signal of the pixel or the reference signal stored row by row in the holding capacitor, and for outputting the selected pixel signal to any of a plurality of signal lines; a reset switch for resetting the plurality of signal lines to a reset voltage; a multiplexer for selectively outputting the pixel signals or the reference signal of the signal lines; and a control unit for controlling the multiplexer and the reset switch, by changing a phase of a control pulse of the multiplexer, or by changing a pulse width of a control pulse of the selection switch, wherein the control unit controls amplitudes of the reset voltage and the reference signals to be predetermined values, based on the reference signal read out according to a frequency lower than a frequency according to which the signal of the pixel is read out from the multiplexer.