Patent ID: 7800791

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: N photodiodes PD 1 to PD N each of which generates charges whose amount corresponds to the amount of light received, N switches SW 1 to SW N that are provided in one-to-one correspondence to the N photodiodes PD 1 to PD N , each of the N switches being provided between the corresponding photodiode and common output line, N representing an integer of 2 or more, and n representing an integer from not less than 1 to not more than N; and a switching instruction part for instructing the switching operation of each of the N switches SW 1 to SW N , wherein the switching instruction part instructs the switching operation of each switch SW n so that the N switches SW 1 to SW N are set to a close state in different periods, and an interval at which each switch state SW n is set to the close state is equal to an integral multiple of a base period, and wherein the switching instruction part includes a shift register for successively outputting switching instruction signals S 1 to S N for instructing the switching operation of each of the N switches SW 1 to SW N as a value instructing the close state, and N gate circuits G 1 to G N provided in one-to-one correspondence to the N switches SW 1 to SW N , wherein each gate circuit G n inputs a switching instruction signal S n output from the shift register.