Patent ID: 8792036

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: a pixel array formed by arraying pixels in a column direction and a row direction; a column common readout unit provided for each pixel column in the pixel array; at least three readout channels which sequentially read signals from said column common readout units, respectively; and a readout channel selection unit which selects readout channels so that the signal is output from each of said column common readout units to a corresponding one of said at least three readout channels, wherein said readout channel selection unit includes a plurality of block signal lines provided for every predetermined number of columns of said pixel array, a plurality of first transfer switches which transfer the signals from said column common readout units to said block signal lines, and a plurality of second transfer switches which transfer the signals from said block signal lines to said readout channels, and controls said first transfer switches and said second transfer switches to select readout channels, to which the signals are output from said column common readout units, in a predetermined pattern that varies in each individual row of said pixel array.