Image sensor, imaging device, imaging method and information processing apparatus

Abstract

There is provided an image sensor including a plurality of sensors for autofocus. The sensors are divided into a plurality of groups. Clock signals for drive in different timings for each group are supplied to the sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image sensor comprising:
 a plurality of sensors for autofocus, 
 wherein the plurality of sensors are divided into a plurality of groups, 
 wherein clock signals to drive each of the plurality of groups are supplied in different timings, 
 wherein a first clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a normal drive is provided to a first sensor pair for autofocus of one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive, and 
 wherein a second clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a power saving drive is provided to other sensor pairs for autofocus of the one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive. 
 
     
     
       2. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein drive timings of the clock signals are shifted to a plurality of timings in a manner that sensors belonging to different groups of the plurality of groups are driven in different timings. 
     
     
       3. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the clock signals are set in a manner that a rising edge timing and a falling edge timing of the clock signals supplied to different groups of the plurality of groups are in different timings. 
     
     
       4. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs). 
     
     
       5. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are not driven in outputting data other than data for the autofocus. 
     
     
       6. The image sensor according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a pair of the plurality of sensors forms a range finding sensor pair, and 
 wherein the range finding sensor pair is arranged either in vertical direction or in horizontal direction. 
 
     
     
       7. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the clock signals have different duty ratio. 
     
     
       8. An imaging device comprising:
 a plurality of sensors for autofocus, 
 wherein the plurality of sensors are divided into a plurality of groups, 
 wherein clock signals to drive each of the plurality of groups are supplied in different timings, 
 wherein a first clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a normal drive is provided to a first sensor pair for autofocus of one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive, and 
 wherein a second clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a power saving drive is provided to other sensor pairs for autofocus of the one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive. 
 
     
     
       9. An imaging method comprising:
 dividing a plurality of sensors for autofocus into a plurality of groups; and 
 supplying clock signals to drive each of the plurality of groups in different timings, 
 wherein a first clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a normal drive is provided to a first sensor pair for autofocus of one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive, and 
 wherein a second clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a power saving drive is provided to other sensor pairs for autofocus of the one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive. 
 
     
     
       10. An imaging device comprising:
 a plurality of sensor pairs for autofocus in each of a plurality of chips, 
 wherein the plurality of chips are chips performing processing in relation to imaging and divided into a plurality of groups, 
 wherein clock signals to drive each of the plurality of chips are supplied in different timings, 
 wherein a first clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a normal drive is provided to a first sensor pair for autofocus of one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive, and 
 wherein a second clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a power saving drive is provided to other sensor pairs for autofocus of the one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive. 
 
     
     
       11. An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of sensor pairs for autofocus in each of a plurality of circuits, 
 wherein the plurality of circuits are divided into a plurality of groups, 
 wherein clock signals to drive each of the plurality of groups are supplied in different timings, 
 wherein a first clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a normal drive is provided to a first sensor pair for autofocus of one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive, and 
 wherein a second clock signal of the clock signals corresponding to a power saving drive is provided to other sensor pairs for autofocus of the one of the plurality of groups when the first sensor pair is in the normal drive.