Patent ID: 8018512

Claim:
An image pickup device comprising: an image pickup element having a matrix of pixels with their charge storage and image signal readout controlled on a row-by-row or a column-by-column basis; a storage controller for controlling the charge storage by the image pickup element; a readout controller for controlling the readout of the image signal from the image pickup element; a synchronization signal generator for generating first synchronization signals as reference for the first timing of the frame-based operation of the image pickup element; and a synchronization signal period controller for variably controlling the repetition period of the first synchronization signal while the photographing is under way; wherein the readout controller keeps constant the unit period in which the image signal data is read out, the synchronization signal generator receives information from the storage controller and the readout controller and generates second synchronization signals as a reference for the second timing of a next frame when a movement requirement is not met, wherein the synchronization signal generator generates the first synchronization signals when the movement requirement is met, and the movement requirement includes a first condition wherein the storage control for the next frame is not started while the storage control for the current frame is under way and a second condition wherein the readout control for the next frame is not started while the readout control for the current frame is under way.