Abstract: The present invention provides a solid state image pickup device capable of readily discriminating a break between data in a serial output data. The solid state image pickup device includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog signals outputted from the plurality of pixels of the image sensor into digital data, the solid state image pickup device serving to output pixel output data after the analog-to-digital conversion in the form of serial data, and discrimination pulse generating means for generating and outputting a discrimination pulse used to discriminate one data time period of the serial data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid state image pickup device capable of readily discriminating a break between data in a serial output data. The solid state image pickup device includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog signals outputted from the plurality of pixels of the image sensor into digital data, the solid state image pickup device serving to output pixel output data after the analog-to-digital conversion in the form of serial data, and discrimination pulse generating means for generating and outputting a discrimination pulse used to discriminate one data time period of the serial data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a peak hold circuit wherein output current corresponding to the peak value of input current is obtained for input currents with little change in magnitude, at essentially higher speeds. Detected drain current and input current of a P-MOS FET are compared, a first reference potential is applied to an NPN transistor, and a second reference potential lower than the first reference potential by a predetermined voltage such that the NPN transistor and a PNP transistor are not simultaneously turned on, is applied to the PNP transistor. In the event that the detected current is greater than the drain current, the NPN transistor is turned on and the PNP transistor is turned off, in the event that the detected current is smaller than the drain current, the NPN transistor is turned off and the PNP transistor is turned on, and in the event that the detected current and the drain current are equal, the NPN transistor and the PNP transistor are both turned off.

Abstract: An analog signal processing circuit for obtaining an output as a function of the peak value of the input has a compact circuit configuration of comprising first and second field effect transistors having the gates commonly connected and the sources to a predetermined first reference potential and a transistor having the first main electrode connected to the gates of the first and second field effect transistors, the second main electrode to the drain of the first field effect transistor and the control electrode to a second reference potential.

Abstract: Disclosed is a peak hold circuit wherein output current corresponding to the peak value of input current is obtained for input currents with little change in magnitude, at essentially higher speeds.

Abstract: There is disclosed a current-voltage converter in which a threshold value during generation of a voltage pulse changes to indicate a constant ratio in accordance with a peak value of an input current with a small circuit scale, and which can select the ratio, and the current-voltage converter for converting a current signal to the voltage pulse comprises: current transmission means for outputting a plurality of currents proportional to an inputted current; current mode peak hold means for inputting the current outputted from the current transmission means, and outputting the current proportional to the peak value of the inputted current; and current comparison means for comparing the current outputted from the current transmission means with the current outputted from the current mode peak hold means, and having a current input and a voltage output for conversion to the voltage pulse.

Abstract: In order to obtain a reference output from which density nonuniformity and fixed pattern noise are removed using OB pixels in a solid-state image pickup device, a solid-state image pickup device which has a plurality of storage units for storing pixel signals output from a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which are formed on a single semiconductor substrate and at least two of which are shielded from light, in correspondence with the photoelectric conversion elements. Pixel signal outputs from the shielded photoelectric conversion elements are subjected to averaging processing on the storage units. Also, in the solid-state image pickup device, the storage units are formed of capacitances, which are electrically and temporarily connected to each other to attain the averaging processing.