Patent ID: 7800667

Claim:
A photo-detecting apparatus comprising: a pixel section including a photodiode for generating electric charge of the amount corresponding to intensity of incident light, an amplifying transistor for outputting a voltage value corresponding to the amount of the electric charge accumulated in a parasitic capacitance section formed at its gate terminal, a transmitting transistor for transmitting the electric charge generated at said photodiode to the gate terminal of said amplifying transistor, a discharging transistor for initializing the electric charge of said parasitic capacitance section, and a selecting transistor for outputting selectively the voltage value outputted from said amplifying transistor; a first pixel data readout section for reading out the voltage value outputted from said selecting transistor of said pixel section and outputting a first voltage value corresponding to this voltage value; a connection switching section, having a first terminal connected to said discharging transistor of said pixel section, a second terminal for inputting a bias potential for initializing the electric charge of the gate terminal of the amplifying transistor in said pixel section, and a third terminal, for making an electrical connection between said first terminal and said second terminal, or between said first terminal and said third terminal; and a second pixel data readout section, of which the input terminal is connected to said third terminal of said connection switching section, and which includes a capacitive element having a larger capacitance value than that of said parasitic capacitance section, for accumulating the electric charge flown from said third terminal of said connection switching section to said input terminal in said capacitive element, and outputting a second voltage value corresponding to the amount of the accumulated electric charge.