Image sensor in which reading and resetting are simultaneously performed

Claim 2

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; four output lines connected electrically and commonly to each of four of said sensor portions; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means to each one of which two of said first stage switching means are commonly connected; a signal line connected to each of said switching means, for switching between said first and second stage switching means; and an amplifier to which a plurality of said second stage switching means are commonly connected, wherein a time for reading signals from said sensor portions to said output lines is twice a time for reading the signals from said second-stage switching means.

Claim 3

An image sensor chip comprising: a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in at least two groups; a plurality of element output lines respectively connected to each of said groups, for outputting signals from said light-receiving elements; a plurality of switching means respectively connected to said plurality of element output lines for outputting signals; a plurality of reset means respectively connected to the plurality of said element output lines; wherein the switching means corresponding to one of said groups is electrically connected to the reset means corresponding to another of said groups, and wherein one particular switching means connected to one of said element output lines which corresponds to one of said groups, and one particular reset means connected to another of said element output lines which corresponds to another of said groups are electrically connected, said particular switching means and said particular reset means being simultaneously driven.

Claim 4

An image sensor chip comprising: a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in at least two groups; a plurality of element output lines respectively connected to each of said groups, for outputting signals from said light-receiving elements; a plurality of switching means respectively connected to said plurality of element output lines for outputting signals; a plurality of reset means respectively connected to the plurality of said element output lines; wherein the switching means corresponding to one of said groups is electrically connected to the reset means corresponding to another of said groups, and wherein one particular switching means connected to one of said element output lines which corresponds to one of said groups, and one particular reset means connected to another of said element output lines which corresponds to another of said groups are electrically connected, said particular switching means and said particular reset means being simultaneously driven.

Claim 5

A chip according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of element output lines are arranged on one side of an array of said plurality of light-receiving elements.

Claim 6

An image sensor according to claim 2, wherein said reset means includes transistors.

Claim 7

A photoelectric conversion apparatus having a plurality of image sensor chips each having an array of light-receiving elements, the light-receiving elements of each array being arranged in at least two groups, each said image sensor chip comprising: a plurality of element output lines respectively coupled to each of the groups, for outputting signals from said plurality of light-receiving elements; a plurality of switching means to which said element output lines are respectively connected; a common output line commonly connected to said plurality of switching means, for commonly outputting outputs from said plurality of switching means; a plurality of reset means connected respectively to said plurality of element output lines, wherein said switching means corresponding to one of said groups is electrically connected to said reset means corresponding to another of said groups; and a control circuit producing a signal for simultaneously driving a particular one of said switching means and a particular one of said reset means to simultaneously read a signal from one element output line while refreshing another element output line.

Claim 8

A photoelectric conversion apparatus having a plurality of image sensor chips each having an array of light-receiving elements, the light-receiving elements of each array being arranged in at least two groups, each said image sensor chip comprising: a plurality of element output lines respectively coupled to each of the groups, for outputting signals from said plurality of light-receiving elements; a plurality of switching means to which said element output lines are respectively connected; a common output line commonly connected to said plurality of switching means, for commonly outputting outputs from said plurality of switching means; a plurality of reset means connected respectively to said plurality of element output lines, wherein said switching means corresponding to one of said groups is electrically connected to said reset means corresponding to another of said groups; and a control circuit producing a signal for simultaneously driving a particular one of said switching means and a particular one of said reset means to simultaneously read a signal from one element output line while refreshing another element output line.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of element output lines are arranged on one side of the array of said light-receiving elements.

Claim 10

A photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said reset means includes transistors.

Claim 11

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; four output lines connected electrically and commonly per each four of said sensor portions; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines, first stage switching means comprising two groups each including two first stage switching means commonly connected; a plurality of second stage switching means each of which is electrically connected to one of the two groups of said first stage switching means; a signal line connected to each of said switching means, for switching between said first and second stage switching means; and an amplifier to which a plurality of said second stage switching means are commonly connected.

Claim 12

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; four output lines connected electrically and commonly per each four of said sensor portions; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines, first stage switching means comprising two groups each including two first stage switching means commonly connected; a plurality of second stage switching means each of which is electrically connected to one of the two groups of said first stage switching means; a signal line connected to each of said switching means, for switching between said first and second stage switching means; and an amplifier to which a plurality of said second stage switching means are commonly connected.

Claim 13

A sensor unit according to claim 8, wherein the sensor array comprises four groups of sensors, and wherein said plurality of output lines comprise four output lines, and further comprising: a signal line connected to each of said switching means, for switching between said first and second stage switching means; and an amplifier to which a plurality of said second stage switching means are commonly connected.

Claim 14

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; four output lines connected electrically and commonly to each of four of said sensor portions; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means to each one of which two of said first stage switching means are commonly connected; a signal line connected to each of said switching means, for switching between said first and second stage switching means; an amplifier to which a plurality of said second stage switching means are commonly connected; and a control circuit producing a signal for driving said first and second stage switching means, so that a time period for reading signals from said sensor portions to said output lines is longer than a time period for reading signals from said second stage switching means.

Claim 15

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; four output lines connected electrically and commonly to each of four of said sensor portions; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means to each one of which two of said first stage switching means are commonly connected; a signal line connected to each of said switching means, for switching between said first and second stage switching means; an amplifier to which a plurality of said second stage switching means are commonly connected; and a control circuit producing a signal for driving said first and second stage switching means, so that a time period for reading signals from said sensor portions to said output lines is longer than a time period for reading signals from said second stage switching means.

Claim 16

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; a plurality of output lines connected to said sensor portions, in a predetermined order, commonly; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means, to each of which n of said first stage switching means are commonly connected, where n is a predetermined integer; a plurality of reset means to which n of said first stage switching means are commonly connected; and a plurality of signal lines for electrically connecting said second stage switching means corresponding to one of said output lines, with said reset means corresponding to other output lines not associated with said second switching means to drive them simultaneously.

Claim 17

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensor portions arranged in an array; a plurality of output lines connected to said sensor portions, in a predetermined order, commonly; a plurality of first stage switching means connected respectively to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means, to each of which n of said first stage switching means are commonly connected, where n is a predetermined integer; a plurality of reset means to which n of said first stage switching means are commonly connected; and a plurality of signal lines for electrically connecting said second stage switching means corresponding to one of said output lines, with said reset means corresponding to other output lines not associated with said second switching means to drive them simultaneously.

Claim 18

A sensor unit according to claim 11, wherein said second switching means are commonly connected in a line.

Claim 19

A sensor unit according to claim 11, wherein n is 2.

Claim 20

A sensor unit according to claim 11, wherein said output lines connected respectively to sensor portions of odd and even orders in the sensor array are provided respectively at opposite sides of said sensor portions.

Claim 21

A sensor unit according to claim 11, wherein said first and second stage switching means and said reset means comprises transistors.

Claim 22

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged in an array and comprising at least four groups of sensors; a plurality of output lines commonly connected to each group of said sensors; a plurality of first switching means respectively connected to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means and a plurality of reset means to which at least two of said first switching means are commonly connected; wherein said second stage switching means, corresponding to one of said groups and said reset means corresponding to another of said groups are electrically connected so that they are simultaneously driven.

Claim 23

A sensor unit comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged in an array and comprising at least four groups of sensors; a plurality of output lines commonly connected to each group of said sensors; a plurality of first switching means respectively connected to said output lines; a plurality of second stage switching means and a plurality of reset means to which at least two of said first switching means are commonly connected; wherein said second stage switching means, corresponding to one of said groups and said reset means corresponding to another of said groups are electrically connected so that they are simultaneously driven.