To simplify the interface and to enhance the accuracy of AD conversion by reducing noise and power consumption due to driving of a digital system.

The imaging element arranged with sensing elements, i.e. pixels 101, in matrix and provided with an AD converter 105 for each row of the pixels 101 comprises a digital counter 103, and a DA converter 108 being inputted with the value of the digital counter 103 in the form of binary code. The AD converter 105 comprises a comparator 106 for comparing the output from the DA converter 108 with signals being outputted sequentially from an array of a plurality of sensing elements, and a digital memory 107 for storing the value of the digital counter 103 in the form of gray code.

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