Image sensing apparatus, imaging system, and imaging sensing apparatus driving method

An image sensing apparatus comprising:

• a pixel array including an optical black region and an effective pixel region;
• and
• a scanning unit which controls reading signals of the pixel array,
• wherein the scanning unit includes:
• a first shift register which controls reading signal of the optical black region by a shift operation for a first period, wherein the first period is a period during which signals of the optical black region are read but signals of the effective pixel region are not read;
• and
• a second shift register which controls reading signals of the effective pixel region by a shift operation,
• wherein the second shift register includes a plurality of circuit blocks which receive a second start signal and controls reading signals of the effective pixel region for each pixel block including a plurality of pixels, and
• wherein the second shift register selects one of the plurality of circuit blocks and causes the selected circuit block to start a shift operation during the first period, and causes the selected circuit block to start reading signals of a readout region serving as a partial region of the effective pixel region during a second period following the first period.

A method of driving an image sensing apparatus having a pixel array including an optical black region and an effective pixel region, and a scanning unit including first and second shift registers, wherein the first shift register receives a first start signal and controls reading signals of the optical black region by a shift operation of the first start signal, and wherein the second shift register receives a second start signal and controls reading signals of the effective pixel region by a shift operation of the second start signal,

• the method comprising:
• a first step of causing the first shift register to control reading signals of the optical black region during a first period, wherein the first period is a period during which signals of the optical black region are read but signals of the effective pixel region are not read;
• a second step of causing the second shift register to start the shift operation during the first period;
• and
• a third step of causing the second shift register to control reading signals of a readout region serving as a partial region of the effective pixel region during a second period following the first period.

A method of driving an image sensing apparatus having a pixel array including an optical black region and an effective pixel region, and a scanning unit including first and second shift registers, wherein the first shift register controls reading signals of the optical black region by a shift operation, and wherein the second shift register controls reading signals of the effective pixel region by a shift operation, the second shift register including a plurality of circuit blocks which receive a second start signal and control reading signals of the effective pixel region for each pixel block including a plurality of pixels,

• the method comprising:
• a first step of causing the first shift register to control reading signals of the optical black region during a first period, wherein the first period is a period during which signals of the optical black region are read but signals of the effective pixel region are not read;
• a second step of causing the second shift register to select one of the plurality of circuit blocks and cause the selected circuit block to start the shift operation during the first period;
• and
• a third step of causing the second shift register to cause the selected circuit block to start reading signals of a readout region serving as a partial region of the effective pixel region during a second period following the first period.