BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplified internal configuration of an image sensor employed in an image capturing unit embodied in the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows an exemplified circuit diagram of each pixel included in a plurality of pixels constituting an image sensor;
FIG. 3 shows an exemplified circuit diagram indicating a configuration of a vertical scanning drive circuit and peripheral circuits;
FIG. 4 shows an exemplified circuit diagram of an internal configuration of a first vertical scanning circuit;
FIG. 5 shows a timing chart of operations of a shift register shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of scanning statuses of horizontal pixel lines when no vertical blanking period is introduced;
FIG. 7 shows another schematic diagram of scanning statuses of horizontal pixel lines when a vertical blanking period is introduced;
FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of scanning statuses of horizontal pixel lines in a method for preventing a variation of a load to be driven by a vertical scanning drive circuit;
FIG. 9 shows a timing chart indicating scanning statuses of the configuration shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of scanning statuses of horizontal pixel lines in the method for realizing a shutter operation of long duration, which exceeds one frame period; and
FIG. 11 shows a timing chart indicating scanning statuses of the configuration shown in FIG. 10.
Patent Application
20070206106
