Image sensor for suppressing image distortion

An image sensor for capturing images, comprising:

• a pixel array where pixels having photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix;
• a plurality of row select lines which are arranged in a row direction in said pixel array;
• a plurality of column lines which are arranged in a column direction in said pixel array;
• a sample hold circuit disposed in each one of said column lines for sample holding photoelectric conversion signals of said pixels;
• a vertical scan circuit for generating vertical scan signals to sequentially select said plurality of row select lines;
• and
• a horizontal scan circuit for generating horizontal scan signals to sequentially select an output of said sample hold circuit while each one of said row select lines is selected,
• wherein said vertical scan circuit sequentially selects and scans said plurality of row select lines within a first vertical scan period when said image sensor is controlled to a first frame period, and also sequentially selects and scans said plurality of row select lines within said first vertical scan period even when said image sensor is controlled to a second frame period, which is longer than said first frame period.

An image sensor for capturing images, comprising:

• a pixel array where pixels having photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix;
• a plurality of row select lines which are arranged in a row direction in said pixel array;
• a plurality of column lines which are arranged in a column direction in said pixel array;
• a sample hold circuit disposed in each one of said column lines for sample holding photoelectric conversion signals of said pixels;
• a vertical scan circuit for generating vertical scan signals to sequentially select said plurality of row select lines;
• and
• a horizontal scan circuit for generating horizontal scan signals to sequentially select the output of said sample hold circuit while each one of said row select lines is selected,
• wherein said vertical scan circuit sequentially selects and scans said plurality of row select lines within the vertical scan period which is a part of the frame period, and does not select said row select lines outside said vertical scan period in said frame period.

An image sensor for capturing images, comprising:

• a pixel array where pixels having photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix;
• a plurality of row select lines which are arranged in a row direction in said pixel array;
• a plurality of column lines which are arranged in a column direction in said pixel array;
• a sample hold circuit disposed in each one of said column lines for sample holding photoelectric conversion signals of said pixels;
• a vertical scan circuit for generating vertical scan signals to sequentially select said plurality of row select lines;
• a horizontal scan circuit for generating horizontal scan signals to sequentially select the output of said sample hold circuit when each one of said row select lines is selected;
• a line buffer for storing one row of output of said sample hold circuit;
• and
• an image processor for inputting an output of said line buffer,
• wherein in the horizontal scan period, output signal of said sample hold circuit is stored in said line buffer responding to said horizontal scan signal, and said output signal in said line buffer is output to the said image processor responding to an output clock with a cycle longer than said horizontal scan signal.