Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes a plurality of amplifying picture elements for converting optical signals to electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signals and outputting the electrical signals, wherein at least one readout line for reading out the signals from a predetermined number of picture elements among the plurality of amplifying picture elements is employed. A plurality of switching devices are connected between each output of the plurality of amplifying picture elements and the corresponding readout lines.

Abstract: A thermal type infrared image sensor is provided, the sensor including rows and columns of pixels forming a matrix, each pixel having a thermosensing element connected to a switch, vertical read lines connected to columns of pixels, a vertical reading circuit for extracting, in parallel, signals from rows of pixels in the matrix via the vertical read lines, an accumulator for accumulating signals output from the vertical reading circuit, a horizontal switching device and a horizontal scan circuit for sequentially and serially reading the accumulated signals.

Abstract: A photosensor circuit of the present invention comprises (i) a plurality of light receiving elements for detecting incident light; (ii) a plurality of output terminals for outputting photocurrents generated in the plurality of light receiving elements; (iii) a plurality of switches for selecting connection between the light receiving element and the output element in all combinations of the plurality of light receiving elements and the plurality of output terminals; and (iv) a shift register comprised of a plurality of nodes each controlling on/off of the plurality of switches. In this arrangement, when data of off or on is input into the plurality of nodes constituting the shift register, the switches corresponding to the nodes receiving the data of off are set to be off, and the switches corresponding to the nodes receiving the data of on are set to be on.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels each having a light-receiving element and an amplification element, and a scanning circuit having a shift register constituted by connecting a plurality of circuit stages in tandem and capable of almost simultaneously setting outputs from the plurality of circuit stages in a predetermined logical state upon reception of a predetermined control signal. In the solid-state image pickup device, the outputs from the plurality of circuit stages are set in the predetermined logical state to select the plurality of pixels, and the charges in the light-receiving elements are reset while cutting off the amplification elements of the plurality of pixels selected. With this arrangement, an inrush current upon reset can be decreased.

Abstract: A charge-balanced analog-to-digital converter including an integrator, a capacitor, two counters and a control circuit. The integrator has two input terminals which are connected to an operational amplifier through separate resistors respectively. One of the input terminals is provided, during a first cyclic period, with a lower potential version of input voltage and during a second cyclic period, with a higher potential version of the input voltage. The other input terminal is provided, during the first and second cyclic periods, alternately with a reference voltage for charging the capacitor and an earth voltage for causing the integrator to be discharged, by discriminating the output of the integrator by means of the comparator.