Patent ID: 7623170

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an array of unit cells arranged in rows and columns, each having a light-receiving device operable to receive light and generate an electric charge corresponding to the light; a plurality of vertical signal lines extending along the columns of unit cells, respectively, each operable to receive an electric data item corresponding to the electric charge generated by the light-receiving device of any unit cell of the associated column; a control circuit operable to control each of the unit cells of the same row such that electric data items corresponding to electric charges generated by the same light-receiving device and accumulated during different periods differing in length, respectively, are read through the vertical signal line during different horizontal blanking periods, and to control each of the unit cells of different rows such that electric data items corresponding to electric charges generated by the light-receiving devices of different rows and accumulated during different periods differing in length, respectively, are read through the vertical signal line during a same horizontal blanking period; and a plurality of data-holding circuits operable to temporarily hold the electric data items corresponding to electric charges accumulated during different periods differing in length, respectively, and read by the control circuit, so as to add the electric data items in an external circuit.