Photoelectric conversion element, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and image reading method

An imaging device comprising a photoelectric conversion element, wherein

• the photoelectric conversion element comprises:
• a plurality of light receiving elements that are arranged in a main-scanning direction, and that are arranged in a sub-scanning direction according to colors of light to be received, and each of the plurality of light receiving elements accumulating electric charge due to light exposure during a line period while being moved relative to an object;
• and
• a plurality of AD converters, implemented by circuitry, that convert analog signals that indicate quantities of said electric charge accumulated in the light receiving elements into digital signals, each of the plurality of AD converters being provided for each group including a predetermined number light receiving elements out of the plurality of light receiving elements, the predetermined number of light
• receiving elements being arranged at different positions in the sub-scanning direction,
• the predetermined number of light receiving elements of each group are exposed to light at different timings and accumulate said electric charge, and each of the plurality of AD converters converts the analog signals into the digital signals in an order in which the predetermined number of light receiving elements are exposed to light, and
• the photoelectric conversion element further comprising a corrector that reduces influence of a difference in the sub-scanning direction between positions of the object that face the predetermined number of light receiving elements of each group when being exposed to light, the difference being smaller than a length by which each of the plurality of light receiving elements is moved relative to the object during said line period.

An imaging method comprising:

• causing a plurality of light receiving elements to be exposed to light to accumulate electric charge while moving the plurality of light receiving elements relative to an object such that each group of a predetermined number of light receiving elements out of the plurality of light receiving elements are exposed to light at different timings, the light receiving elements being arranged in a main-scanning direction and being arranged in the sub-scanning direction according to colors of light to be received, the plurality of light receiving elements being arranged at different positions in the sub-scanning direction;
• converting, by using each of a plurality of AD converters, analog signals that indicate quantities of said electric charge accumulated in the predetermined number of light receiving elements of each group into digital signals in an order in which the predetermined number of light receiving elements are exposed to light at the different timings;
• and
• performing correction so as to reduce influence of a difference in the sub-scanning direction between positions of the object that face the predetermined number of light receiving elements of each group when being exposed to light, the difference being smaller than a length by which each of the plurality of light receiving elements is moved relative to the object during one line period.