Patent ID: 7911662
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A linear image sensor comprising: a first line sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements linearly arranged at a predetermined pitch in a main scanning direction; a second line sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements linearly arranged at the predetermined pitch in the main scanning direction and having a length in the main scanning direction shorter than that of said first line sensor, the photoelectric conversion elements of said second line sensor being shifted from the photoelectric conversion elements of said first line sensor by half the predetermined pitch in the main scanning direction; a first transfer register that transfers electric charges from all the photoelectric conversion elements of said first line sensor; and a second transfer register that has a length shorter than that of said first transfer register, wherein electric charges in only a portion of the photoelectric conversion elements of said first line sensor facing said second line sensor are transferred to the second transfer register, but electric charges in a portion of the photoelectric conversion elements of said first line sensor not facing said second line sensor are never transferred to the second transfer register, and electric charges in the photoelectric conversion elements of the second line sensor are transferred to the second transfer register, wherein said second line sensor is arranged in parallel to said first line sensor and spaced from said first line sensor by a predetermined distance in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.