Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• a converter configured to convert a pixel signal into a digital signal by comparing the pixel signal, which is output from a plurality of pixels of an image capturing element, with a slope voltage for which the electric potential changes with time;
• and
• a controller configured to control the convertor using a plurality of modes corresponding to operation conditions for when the pixel signal is read out;
• wherein
• in a first mode, the controller performs control for the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the converter by comparing a slope voltage selected from a plurality of slope voltages with the pixel signal;
• in a second mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the convertor by comparing a pre-determined slope voltage with the pixel signal;
• and
• the controller selects the first or second mode according to the resolution from when the converter performed the conversion.

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• a converter configured to convert a pixel signal into a digital signal by comparing the pixel signal, which is output from a plurality of pixels of an image capturing element, with a slope voltage for which the electric potential changes with time;
• and
• a controller configured to control the convertor using a plurality of modes corresponding to operation conditions for when the pixel signal is read out;
• wherein
• in a first mode, the controller performs control for the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the converter by comparing a slope voltage selected from a plurality of slope voltages with the pixel signal;
• in a second mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the convertor by comparing a pre-determined slope voltage with the pixel signal;
• and
• the controller selects the first or second mode according to the vertical read out line number for the image capturing element.

A control method for execution in an image capturing apparatus provided with an image capturing element, the control method comprising:

• a converter converting a pixel signal into a digital signal by comparing the pixel signal, which is output from a plurality of pixels of the image capturing element, with a slope voltage for which the electric potential changes with time;
• and
• a controller controlling the converter using a plurality of modes corresponding to operation conditions for when the pixel signal is read out;
• wherein
• during the control,
• in a first mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the converter by comparing a slope voltage that has been selected from a plurality of slope voltages with the pixel signal;
• in a second mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the converter by comparing a pre-determined slope voltage with the pixel signal;
• and
• the controller selects the first or second mode by comparing a first time period from a read out of the pixel signal of the image capturing element until conversion by the converter with a second time period for transmission of the image signal that has been converted by the converter.

A control method for execution in an image capturing apparatus provided with an image capturing element, the control method comprising:

• a converter converting a pixel signal into a digital signal by comparing the pixel signal, which is output from a plurality of pixels of the image capturing element, with a slope voltage for which the electric potential changes with time;
• and
• a controller controlling the converter using a plurality of modes corresponding to operation conditions for when the pixel signal is read out;
• wherein
• during the control,
• in a first mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the convertor by comparing a slope voltage that has been selected from a plurality of slope voltages with the pixel signal;
• in a second mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the converter by comparing a pre-determined slope voltage with the pixel signal;
• and
• the controller selects the first or second mode according to a resolution from when the converter performed the conversion.

A control method for execution in an image capturing apparatus provided with an image capturing element, the control method comprising:

• a converter converting a pixel signal into a digital signal by comparing the pixel signal, which is output from a plurality of pixels of the image capturing element, with a slope voltage for which the electric potential changes with time;
• and
• a controller controlling the converter using a plurality of modes corresponding to operation conditions for when the pixel signal is read out;
• wherein
• during the control,
• in a first mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the converter by comparing a slope voltage that has been selected from a plurality of slope voltages with the pixel signal;
• in a second mode, the controller performs control of the conversion of the pixel signal performed by the convertor by comparing a pre-determined slope voltage with the pixel signal;
• and
• the controller selects the first or second mode according to a vertical read out line number of the image capturing element.