Image capturing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix;
• at least three sample-hold circuits that are arranged with respect to pixel signals output from one pixel;
• a voltage-current conversion portion configured to output a difference between two sample-hold circuits, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits, as a current signal;
• an AD converter configured to convert an output signal of the voltage-current conversion portion to a digital signal;
• and
• at least one processor or circuit configured to function as:
• a control unit configured to perform control such that, in a period in which a first pixel signal obtained from the pixel is held in one sample-hold circuit, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits, and the first pixel signal is AD converted, an operation is started in which a second pixel signal obtained from the pixel become held in another sample-hold circuit, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits,
• wherein the first pixel signal is a signal based on charges of at least one photoelectric conversion element of one of the pixels, and the second pixel signal is a signal based on charges of another conversion element of the one pixel.

A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus including:

• a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix;
• at least three sample-hold circuits that are arranged with respect to pixel signals output from one pixel;
• a voltage-current conversion portion configured to output a difference between two sample-hold circuits, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits, as a current signal;
• and an AD converter configured to convert an output signal of the voltage-current conversion portion to a digital signal, the method comprising:
• performing control such that, in a period in which a first pixel signal obtained from the pixel is held in one sample-hold circuit, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits, and the first pixel signal is AD converted, an operation is started in which a second pixel signal obtained from the pixel become held in another sample-hold circuit, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits,
• wherein the first pixel signal is a signal based on charges of at least one photoelectric conversion element of one of the pixels, and the second pixel signal is a signal based on charges of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of the one pixel.

A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus including:

• a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix;
• at least three sample-hold circuits that are arranged with respect to pixel signals output from one pixel;
• a voltage-current conversion portion configured to output a difference between two sample-hold circuits, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits, as a current signal;
• and an AD converter configured to convert an output signal of the voltage-current conversion portion to a digital signal, the method comprising:
• performing control such that, in a period in which a first pixel signal obtained from the pixel is held in one sample-hold circuit, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits, and the first pixel signal is AD converted, an operation is started in which a second pixel signal obtained from the pixel become held in another sample-hold circuit, out of the at least three sample-hold circuits,
• wherein the first pixel signal is a signal based on charges of at least one photoelectric conversion element of one of the pixels, and the second pixel signal is a signal based on charges of another conversion element of the one pixel.