Patent ID: 8822899

Claim:
An image sensor, comprising: an input control unit configured to control signal paths between a plurality of pixels and a plurality of sampling units and supplying outputs from the plurality of pixels in row units to the plurality of sampling units during a normal operation, while supplying the outputs from the plurality of pixels by color, to the plurality of sampling units during a binning operation; and an output control unit configured to control signal paths between the plurality of sampling units and an amplification unit and sequentially supplying outputs from the plurality of sampling units to the amplification unit during the normal operation while simultaneously supplying the outputs from the plurality of sampling units to the amplification unit during the binning operation, wherein the input control unit comprises an adjacent column connection unit having N 2 /2 first switches, where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, the N 2 /2 first switches having both terminals connected to output terminals of two pixels located in adjacent columns; and input switching unit having N 2 second switches connected between the both terminals of the N 2 /2 first switches and input terminals of N 2 sampling units; and the output control unit comprises a pixel switching unit having N 2 third switches connected between output terminals of the N 2 sampling units and an input terminal of the amplification unit; wherein all of the N 2 /2 first switches and the N 2 third switches are turned on and the N 2 second switches are alternately turned on in column units during the binning operation; and all of the N 2 /2 first switches are turned off, all of the N 2 second switches are turned on, and the N 2 third switches are turned on one at a time, during the normal operation.