Reduction of effect of image processing on image sensor

An image sensor, comprising:

• image sensing elements;
• and
• a timing generator configured to output image data generated by the image sensing elements together with a timing signal, the image data and the timing signal are supplied to an image processing stage for performing image processing of the image data,
• wherein the timing signal supplied from the timing generator to the image processing stage is separate from the image data supplied from the timing generator to the image processing stage, and indicates a first timing that is at least a processing delay time earlier than a second timing indicative of a start of a valid period of the image data to trigger the image processing at the first timing, and the image data output from the timing generator to be input into the image processing stage includes dummy data preceding the image data of the valid period from the first timing to the second timing, the processing delay time being a time period from the first timing indicated by the timing signal to a point in time at which the image processing of said image data starts at the image Processing stage in response to the timing signal indicative of the first timing.

An imaging method, comprising the steps of:

• outputting from an image sensor a timing signal indicative of a first timing that is at least a predetermined time earlier than a second timing indicative of a start of a valid period of image data obtained from image sensing elements, the timing signal being separate from the image data output from the image sensor and triggering predetermined signal processing at the first timing;
• outputting, from said image sensor, dummy data preceding the image data of the valid period from the first timing to the second timing indicative of the start of the valid period of the image data;
• outputting, from said image sensor, the image data that is valid data following the dummy data after the second timing;
• starting to perform, by an image processing unit responding to the timing signal indicating the first timing, the predetermined signal processing on the dummy data and the image data output from the image sensor said predetermined time after the first timing indicated by the timing signal;
• and
• outputting, from said image processing unit, image data having undergone the predetermined signal processing and a timing signal indicative of a start of a valid period of the image data having undergone the predetermined signal processing.