Patent ID: 8023022

Claim:
A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising: a pixel section including a two-dimensional matrix having a plurality of pixels, each pixel including photoelectric conversion means for converting an incident light into a signal charge, a storage section that stores therein the signal charge, transfer means for transferring the signal charge to the storage section, amplification means for amplifying the signal charge stored in the storage section for output as a pixel signal, and reset means for resetting the storage section through supply of a potential retained at a reset line to the storage section, on a column basis, an output signal line whose one end is coupled to one end of a constant-current source whose remaining end is grounded, and through which the pixel signal is output, in which the area carrying thereon the two-dimensional matrix of the pixels includes a light-shielding area with light shielding properties, a read area for reading a pixel signal corresponding to the incident light, and a transition area disposed between the light-shielding area and the read area; and control means for selecting any of the pixels being coupled to the same output signal line and being in the read area as a first pixel, selecting any of the pixels being coupled to said the same output signal line and being in the transition area as a second pixel, resetting the second pixel by the reset means when outputting the pixel signal corresponding to the incident light from the first pixel to the output signal line, and performing control to keep the potential difference between the one end and the other end of the constant-current source in a range with which the constant-current source can be operated by using the pixel signal to be output to the output signal line from the second pixel at the time of resetting the second pixel.