Patent ID: 7969491

Claim:
A light detection apparatus comprising: a determination circuit for receiving an analog signal consonant with the output of a light detection device and for determining the magnitude of said analog signal; and A/D conversion means for converting said analog signal into a digital signal in accordance with a resolution consonant with the output of said determination circuit, wherein said A/D conversion means includes an integrating circuit connected to the rear stage of the light detection device, and an A/D converter circuit, having a main capacitor for integrating charges proportional to the output of the integrating circuit, multiple sub-capacitors for integrating said charges that are transferred from the main capacitor in which said charges have been integrated, and a capacitance controller for controlling the transfer of said charges to said multiple sub-capacitors, and for outputting a control value as the digital signal, and wherein the amount of charges accumulable in each of said multiple sub-capacitors is set in accordance with the output of said determination circuit.