Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises a CMOS image sensor, a lens module with mechanical shutter and a timing control means. The CMOS image sensor further has a electronic shutter mechanism that can provide exposure of the entire array at the same. The mechanical shutter is disposed between the CMOS image sensor and the lens or the lens is disposed between the mechanical shutter and the CMOS image sensor. The timing control means is coupled to the CMOS image sensor and the mechanical shutter. An operating method is provided to control the electronic shutter and mechanical shutter in order to achieve the best exposure control.

Abstract: An exposure control method for an image pickup apparatus with a CMOS image sensor comprises the steps: opening an mechanical shutter to guide incident light falling on the CMOS image sensor; generating a signal for eliminating residual image data, and initiating exposure controlled by an electronic shutter in the CMOS image sensor; generating an instruction for closing the mechanical shutter before the exposure finished; beginning to close the mechanical shutter after the exposure finished; and starting to read out the image data acquired as soon as the mechanical shutter has been closed completely.