Patent ID: 8208055

Claim:
A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a pixel region including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel outputting an analog signal; a plurality of A/D conversion circuits, each arranged correspondingly to each column of the plurality of pixels for A/D converting the analog signal into a digital signal; and a reference signal generating circuit for supplying, commonly to the plurality of A/D conversion circuits, at least two reference signals of which signal levels change toward different directions of electric potential, wherein each A/D conversion circuit comprises: an amplifier; an input capacitor having one terminal receiving the analog signal and the at least two reference signals supplied from the reference signal generating circuit, and the other terminal connected to one input terminal of the amplifier; a feedback capacitor connected between the one input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier; a comparator for comparing, with a comparing level, an output from the output terminal of the amplifier; and a connection capacitor having one terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier, and the other terminal connected to one input terminal of the comparator.