Patent ID: 8643918

Claim:
An image reading device comprising: an image sensor including a plurality of sensor chips therein and being capable of outputting data in parallel through a plurality of output channels, an image reading section configured to perform reading of images in either of two outputting modes, wherein one outputting mode is a parallel outputting mode in which start signals are simultaneously inputted to the plurality of sensor chips so that pieces of data in the plurality of the sensor chips are outputted in parallel through the plurality of output channels, respectively, the other one outputting mode is an interval outputting mode in which start signals are sequentially inputted to the plurality of sensor chips at intervals of time between any two successive inputs of the start signals, respectively, so that respective pieces of data in the plurality of sensor chips are sequentially outputted through any one of the plurality of output channels; and a mode selection section configured to set the parallel outputting mode in the case where the reading of images is performed at a low-resolution, and to set the interval outputting mode in the case where the reading of images is performed at a high-resolution, wherein the plurality of sensor chips are grouped into a plurality of sensor chip groups, and the mode selection section changes the outputting mode of the sensor chips included in each sensor chip group to the parallel outputting mode or the interval outputting mode.