Solid-state image pickup device and method for driving the same in solid-state imaging pickup device and method for driving the same in a number of modes

A light detecting device, comprising:

• a first pixel that outputs a first pixel signal;
• a second pixel that outputs a second pixel signal;
• a third pixel that outputs a third pixel signal;
• a fourth pixel that outputs a fourth pixel signal;
• a first signal line coupled to the first pixel;
• a second signal line coupled to the second pixel;
• a third signal line coupled to the third pixel;
• a fourth signal line coupled to the fourth pixel;
• first analog to digital conversion circuitry, a first input of the first analog to digital conversion circuitry being coupled to the first signal line;
• second analog to digital conversion circuitry, a second input of the second analog to digital conversion circuitry being coupled to a first switch circuitry;
• third analog to digital conversion circuitry, a third input of the third analog to digital conversion circuitry being coupled to a second switch circuitry;
• fourth analog to digital conversion circuitry, a fourth input of the fourth analog to digital conversion circuitry being coupled to the fourth signal line;
• a first output line coupled to a first output of the first analog to digital conversion circuitry and a third output of the third analog to digital conversion circuitry;
• a second output line coupled to a second output of the second analog to digital conversion circuitry and a fourth output of the fourth analog to digital conversion circuitry;
• wherein the first switch circuitry is configured to couple the second signal line to the second analog to digital conversion circuitry and couple the third signal line to the second analog to digital conversion circuitry selectively,
• wherein the second switch circuitry is configured to couple the third signal line to the third analog to digital conversion circuitry and couple the second signal line to the third analog to digital conversion circuitry selectively,
• wherein the first switch circuitry and second switch circuitry form an integrated switching pair, the integrated switching pair is provided between the second and, third pixels and the second and third analog to digital conversion circuitries,
• wherein when the integrated switching pair operates in a first mode, the first, second, third and fourth pixel signals are converted to digital signals by the first, second, third and fourth analog to digital conversion circuitries, respectively,
• wherein when the integrated switching pair operates in a second mode, the first and third pixel signals are converted to digital signals by the first and second analog to digital conversion circuitries, respectively, and the second and fourth pixel signals are converted to digital signals by the third and fourth analog to digital conversion circuitries, and
• wherein the first analog to digital conversion circuitry comprises a first comparator, the second analog to digital conversion circuitry comprises a second comparator, the third analog to digital conversion circuitry comprises a third comparator and the fourth analog to digital conversion circuitry comprises a fourth comparator.