Abstract:
To provide a solid-state imaging device driving method, a solid-state imaging device and a camera in which the solid-state imaging device is able to operate at a high speed without a change of an angle of view and without a mixture of colors in a color solid-state imaging device by reducing an amount of data in the horizontal direction to ½. In a solid-state imaging device of a two-dimensional arrangement having a pixel comprising a light-receiving accumulation unit, a vertical register or a vertical register having a light-receiving function and a horizontal register, signal electric charges of pixels distant from each other on one row are transferred to the horizontal register, these signal electric charges are mixed within the horizontal register, and the mixed signal electric charge is transferred in the horizontal direction.
Abstract:
An image signal processing apparatus includes: a solid-state image pickup device capable of taking a two-dimensional image, the device having a plurality of primary transfer paths and a secondary transfer path, wherein the plurality of primary first transfer each have a plurality of transfer stages each capable of storing electric charges and transfer the electric charges in a first direction, and the secondary transfer path has a plurality of transfer stages each capable of storing electric charges, receives electric charges in the plurality of primary transfer paths, and transfers the electric charges in a second direction; a reading unit for scanning the two-dimensional image on the solid-state image pickup device in a main scan direction corresponding to the second direction and in a sub-scan direction corresponding to the first direction and reading the electric charges in the secondary-transfer path as image signals; and an output unit for outputting the read image signals on a monitor by interchanging the main scan direction and the sub-scan direction.
Abstract:
A solid-state imaging device with a variable (continuous) electronic shutter function comprises an imaging area where unit cells with photodiodes acting as pixels are arranged two-dimensionally, read lines for driving the read transistors in each pixel row, vertical selection lines for driving the vertical selection transistors in each pixel row, a vertical driving circuit for selectively driving vertical selection lines, vertical signal lines for outputting the signal from each unit cell in the pixel rows driven sequentially, and a row selection circuit for controlling the vertical driving circuit in such a manner that the vertical driving circuit drives the read transistors in each pixel row with the desired signal storage timing and signal read timing twice in that order and thereby drives the vertical selection transistors in the pixel row in synchronization with the signal read timing.
Abstract:
An operating condition judging means judges at least one of consumed current, whether or not a mechanically driven part is being operated, the supply voltage level, the ambient temperature, whether or not the lens stop means is operative, whether or not the strobo means is being charged, and whether or not access operation of recording means is being performed. A control means controls a frequency of sweep-out of unnecessary charge in the imaging element on the basis of the output of the operating condition judging means. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the peak consumed current through the entire imaging apparatus, reduce the power consumption and extend the battery life.
Abstract:
An image pickup device is operated in a thinning mode, an image pickup signal is supplied to a liquid crystal display, and a pickup image is displayed (monitoring mode). The image pickup device is operated in a progressive scan reading mode and the image pickup signal is written into a DRAM (first recording mode). After completion of the writing, data compressed by an encoder/decoder is written into a flash memory and the image pickup signal is displayed (second recording mode). The image pickup signal is read out from the flash memory and decoded and written into the DRAM and the image pickup signal is displayed (first reproducing mode). The data is thinned and read out from the DRAM and displayed (second reproducing mode). A switching operation of those modes is controlled by a data switcher and a microcomputer.
Abstract:
A digital camera is provided with a whole-frame recording mode in which image data covering an angle of view corresponding to an entire image sensor is recorded, a partial recording mode in which image data covering an angle of view corresponding to part of the image sensor is recorded, a unity-magnification display mode in which an image covering the same angle of view as image data for recording is displayed, and an enlarged display mode in which an image covering a smaller angle of view than image data for recording is displayed with enlargement. In the partial recording mode or enlarged display mode, electric charges are read out from rows of pixels located within a predetermined area on the image sensor, or from one out of a predetermined number of consecutive rows of pixels over the entire image sensor.
Abstract:
An excitation light irradiating device irradiates excitation light to a measuring site, the excitation light causing the measuring site to produce fluorescence. An imaging system detects an image of the fluorescence, which has been produced from the measuring site when the excitation light is irradiated to the measuring site. An imaging controller controls operations of the imaging system. The imaging system is provided with an image sensor, which comprises a plurality of pixels arrayed in two-dimensional directions and which has a fluorescence imaging region utilized for the imaging of the fluorescence and a non-imaging region other than the fluorescence imaging region. The imaging controller controls such that, when signal charges are to be read from the image sensor, signal charges, which have been accumulated in at least certain pixels among pixels falling within the non-imaging region, are read with a quick reading operation, in which the signal charges are read at a reading speed higher than the reading speed for the fluorescence imaging region.
Abstract:
The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus and method, and an image processing apparatus and method that make it possible to control the resolution of a detection image. A resolution is set, and a restoration matrix is set including coefficients used when a restored image is restored from output pixel values of a plurality of pixel output units, of an imaging element including the plurality of pixel output units that receives incident light entering without passing through either an imaging lens or a pinhole, and each outputs one detection signal indicating an output pixel value modulated by an incident angle of the incident light, depending on the resolution set. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an imaging apparatus, an image processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an electronic device, a computer, a program, a storage medium, a system, and the like.
Abstract:
Provided is an imaging device including row drive unit having a first storage unit that stores and outputs a first signal for a readout from the pixels on an associated row, a second storage unit that stores and outputs a second signal for an operation for causing the photoelectric conversion element on an associated row to be reset to a charge accumulation state, and a third storage unit that stores and outputs a third signal for maintaining the photoelectric conversion element on an associated row in a charge accumulation state or a reset state based on the first signal output from the first storage unit and the second signal output from the second storage unit.
Abstract:
A CMOS image sensor with reducing interconnections is provided. The CMOS image sensor may include a first row of pixels that includes a first pixel. The first pixel may include a first plurality of photodiodes and a first plurality of transfer gates. Each of the first plurality of photodiodes may be associated with a corresponding one of the first plurality of transfer gates. The CMOS image sensor may include a second row of pixels that includes a second pixel. The second pixel may include a second plurality of photodiodes and a second plurality of transfer gates. Each of the second plurality of photodiodes may be associated with a corresponding one of the second plurality of transfer gates. A first one of the transfer gates of the first plurality of transfer gates may be coupled to a first one of the transfer gates of the second plurality of transfer gates.