Imaging apparatus and method for driving the same
US8717474B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 2010 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/56
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of column amplifiers, each outputting, based on the same one pixel, first and second pixel signals derived by amplifying the signal by different amplifying factors p and q; a plurality of column A/D converters for performing analog to digital conversion of the first and second pixel signals obtained; a plurality of replacing units, each selecting the first pixel signal converted by the corresponding column A/D converter when the first pixel signal converted by the corresponding column A/D converter is smaller than a threshold value, and selecting the second pixel signal converted by the corresponding column A/D converter when the first pixel signal converted by the corresponding column A/D converter is equal to or larger than the threshold value; and a horizontal scanning circuit for successively selecting the first or second pixel signals selected by the replacing units.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.