Patent ID: 8319869

Claim:
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: an imaging unit in which plural pixel circuits are arranged one- or two-dimensionally, each pixel circuit including a photoelectric converter, and each pixel circuit outputting a reset voltage and a read voltage, the reset voltage being generated when said photoelectric converter is reset, and the read voltage being generated through photoelectric conversion performed by said photoelectric converter; a first signal output line that is connected to a number of said pixel circuits and that carries the reset voltage and the read voltage output from said pixel circuits; a signal output circuit that outputs, from a second signal output line, a luminance signal in accordance with an amount of light received by said photoelectric converter, based on the reset voltage and the read voltage output to said first signal output line; a signal amplifier that is positioned between said pixel circuits and said second signal output line, and that inverts and amplifies the reset voltage and the read voltage output from said pixel circuits; and a high-intensity judgment circuit connected to said signal amplifier, wherein said high-intensity judgment circuit judges whether or not light entering said photoelectric converter is of high intensity based on a voltage signal in said first signal output line, which is output from said pixel circuits, and, upon judging that entering light is of high intensity, outputs luminance information indicating that the entering light is of high intensity instead of outputting the luminance signal, indicating a difference between the reset voltage and the read voltage, and wherein said high-intensity judgment circuit includes a capacitor connected to said first signal output line and judges whether or not the light entering said photoelectric converter is of high intensity based on an AC component of the voltage signal in said first signal output line.