Patent ID: 8462260

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a pixel unit which generates pixel signals by performing photoelectric conversion on image light of an object which is entered through a lens and which is divided into at least two regions; an image pickup element controller which controls a start of reading of the pixel signals from the pixel unit; driving controllers which are disposed so as to correspond to the divided regions in the pixel unit and which controls reading of the pixel signals from the regions; a storage unit which stores pixel signals for one screen which have been output from the pixel unit; a timing controller which controls a timing when the pixel signals are read from the storage unit in accordance with a setting value of an input frame rate; and a timing generator (a) which generates a driving signal used to perform the reading of the pixel signals from one of the regions of the pixel unit and the reading of the pixel signals from the other of the regions in parallel in terms of time when (1) the frame rate is larger than a predetermined threshold value and (2) a mechanical shutter associated with the pixel unit is driven and (b) generates a driving signal used to perform the reading of the pixel signals from one of the regions of the pixel unit and the reading of the pixel signals from the other of the regions in series in terms of time when (1) the frame rate is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value and (2) the mechanical shutter is not driven, and the timing generator which supplies the generated driving signal to the driving controllers.