Patent ID: 7547871

Claim:
A photoelectric conversion apparatus including a single semiconductor substrate on which are arranged a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a read-out circuit unit that reads out analog signals from said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a buffer circuit unit that drives a switch included in said read-out circuit unit, and a logic circuit unit that processes a digital signal to supply a pulse to said buffer circuit unit, said apparatus comprising: a second semiconductor area of a first conductivity type, formed in a first semiconductor area of said first conductivity type to which a ground level for said buffer circuit unit is supplied; and a fourth semiconductor area of said first conductivity type, formed in a third semiconductor area of said first conductivity type to which a ground level for said logic circuit unit is supplied, wherein said first semiconductor area and said third semiconductor area are separated from each other by a fifth semiconductor area of a second conductivity type, and wherein said logic circuit unit is connected to said buffer circuit unit, and said buffer circuit unit is connected to said switch included in said read-out circuit unit.