Photoelectric conversion device, photoelectric conversion method, and image forming apparatus

A photoelectric conversion method comprising:

• generating an image signal according to an intensity of light received by a generation circuit;
• and
• controlling the generation circuit to generate a dark-time image signal equivalent to an image signal generated by the generation circuit without exposure to external light, wherein
• the controlling controls the generation circuit to suspend outputting an image signal so as to generate the dark-time image signal, and
• the controlling controls the generation circuit to output a reset electrical potential a plurality of times during a time period of outputting the dark-time image signal.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a document tray to place a document;
• a light source to emit light to the document;
• and
• a photoelectric conversion device to receive the light reflected by the document,
• the photoelectric conversion device including:
• a generation circuit to generate an image signal according to an intensity of the light received, and
• controller circuitry to control the generation circuit to generate a dark-time image signal equivalent to an image signal generated by the generation circuit without exposure to light coming from outside of the image forming apparatus, wherein
• the controller circuitry controls the generation circuit to suspend outputting an image signal so as to generate the dark-time image signal, and
• the controller circuitry controls the generation circuit to output a reset electrical potential a plurality of times during a time period of outputting the dark-time image signal.