Patent ID: 8159578
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging system comprising; an image sensor; and a mechanical shutter which controls termination of exposure of the image sensor, wherein the image sensor includes (a) a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a matrix, the pixel array including a plurality of rows, and (b) a vertical scanning unit which scans the pixel array, the scanning of the pixel array including reset operations of pixels in the pixel array, wherein the vertical scanning unit simultaneously starts the reset operations of pixels on at least two adjacent rows of the plurality of rows, wherein a charge accumulation operation of pixels starts upon completion of the reset operation and terminates upon light shielding by the mechanical shutter, wherein the vertical scanning unit sequentially completes the reset operations of the at least two adjacent rows of the plurality of rows, and wherein once the reset operation of each row starts, the reset operation of said row is maintained until it is completed by the vertical scanning unit to start the charge accumulation operation.