Patent ID: 7242432

Claim:
An imaging apparatus for outputting image signals by photoelectrically converting an image formed at an optical system by an image sensor array having a color filter array having several spectral transmittance disposed in front thereof, said imaging apparatus comprising: mode setting means capable of setting at least one mode among an all-pixel read mode for effecting readout of all of the pixels of at least one horizontal line, an intermittent read mode for effecting readout in a thinned-out manner of pixels to be read out from at least one horizontal line, and an averaging read mode for effecting readout by averaging a plurality of pixels as the mode for reading out image signals from said image sensor array; and readout rule control means for controlling and determining pixel locations for reading out said image signals; wherein: when the intermittent read mode and/or the averaging read mode have been set by said mode setting means, the readout pixel locations to be determined by said readout rule control means are caused to vary frame by frame in the image signals to be read out; when the intermittent read mode is set by said mode setting means: the readout pixel locations to be determined by said readout rule control means are composed of pixel locations within a plurality of predetermined regions each consisting of a plurality of adjoining pixels; said plurality of regions are discrete from each other and are arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions of said image sensor array; and said readout rule control means changes and controls the respective locations of said plurality of regions frame by frame in the image signals to be readout; wherein said readout pixel location regions are arranged in such a manner that said regions located next to each other in the vertical direction of said image sensor array are shifted horizontally with respect to each other; and said readout rule control means changes and controls the locations of said readout pixel location regions frame by frame.