Patent ID: 7505070

Claim:
An area sensor comprising: an image receiving area having a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, wherein each of the plurality of said pixels has at least a switching element, wherein said image receiving area has at least a first area and a second area; a plurality of signal lines which are connected to a plurality of said switching elements arrayed in a second direction which is different from a first direction, wherein said plurality of signal lines include a plurality of first signal lines which are connected to a plurality of said switching elements arrayed in said second direction in said first area and a plurality of second signal lines which are connected to a plurality of said switching elements arrayed in said second direction in said second area; a plurality of signal reading means which are connected to said plurality of said signal lines, a plurality of common lines which are connected to a plurality of said switching elements arrayed in said first direction, wherein said plurality of said common lines include a first common line connected to a first group of the switching elements which include a plurality of said switching elements arrayed in said first direction in said first area and a second common line connected to a second group of said switching elements which include a plurality of said switching elements arrayed in said first direction in said second area; and a plurality of driving means which are connected to said common lines, wherein said plurality of driving means include a first driving means connected to one end of said first common line, a second driving means connected to another end of said first common line, a third driving means connected to one end of said second common line, and a fourth driving means connected to another end of said second common line, wherein said first and second driving means apply a first control signal to said first common line for driving said first group of the switching elements at the same time, said third and fourth driving means apply a second control signal to said second common line for driving said second group of the switching elements at the same time, and said first control signal and said second control signal are applied at the same timing.