Abstract:
A color imaging apparatus includes a CCD imaging device having interline transfer charge transfer paths adapted for interlaced reading and a Bayer-arranged color filter. The apparatus can be put in either of normal shooting mode and high-sensitivity shooting mode. In the high-sensitivity mode, pixel signals from two pixels arranged in the vertical direction in each photosensitive CCD array are transferred by a corresponding vertical transfer path at two times the rate in the normal mode to a horizontal transfer path where they are added together. A line of pixel signals from the horizontal transfer path is output to a preprocess circuit where pixel signals separated by one pixel in the horizontal direction are added together. This process produces a line of image signal.
Abstract:
A charge-coupled device image sensor comprises a matrix array of photodiodes and a horizontal charge-coupled device (CCD). First vertical CCDs are provided, each on one side of each column of the photodiodes for receiving charge packets from the photodiodes of odd-numbered rows and moving the charge packets to the horizontal CCD and second vertical CCDs are provided, each on the other side of each column of the photodiodes for receiving charge packets from the photodiodes of even-numbered rows and moving the charge packets to the horizontal CCD. The horizontal CCD receives the charge packets from the first and second vertical CCDs and transfers the received charge packets to external circuitry. According to a modified embodiment, a second horizontal CCD is provided for receiving the charge packets from the second vertical CCDs.
Abstract:
In order to realize a multi-function sensor in which a reduction of a CMOS sensor and an addition of pixel signals are performed in a pixel portion and, further, an addition and a non-addition can be arbitrarily performed, there is provided a solid state image pickup apparatus in which charges generated by a photoelectric converting device are perfectly transferred to a floating diffusion portion through a transfer switch and a change in electric potential of the floating diffusion portion is outputted to the outside by a source-follower amplifier. A few photoelectric converting devices are connected to one floating diffusion portion through the transfer switch. One set of a few source-follower amplifiers are formed for a few pixels. The photoelectric converting device is constructed by an MOS transistor gate and a depletion layer under the gate.
Abstract:
A solid state image sensing device is formed of a plurality of photo-sensing sections arranged in a two-dimensional fashion at a pixel unit in the horizontal and vertical directions. In this case, each of the plurality of photo-sensing sections is formed of a feedback gate transistor whose gate electrode and source electrode are both connected to a vertical signal line, a vertical selection transistor which is connected in series to the feedback gate transistor and whose gate electrode is connected to a horizontal selection line, and a photoelectric conversion element provided under a channel region of each of the feedback gate transistor and the vertical selection transistor, whereby the sensitivity of the solid state image sensing device is increased and the smear thereof can be lowered.
Abstract:
In an electronic still-video camera capable of frame recording using a shutter, read-out is controlled in such a manner that dark currents generated in an imaging device will be equal in both first and second fields. Thereby, the recording of a still-video signal that will provide an excellent and easy-to-view reproduced image that is free of flicker is made possible.
Abstract:
An endoscope apparatus includes an imaging element, a video signal generating circuit, an illuminator, a light quantity detector, and one or more controllers. An imaging area in which a plurality of pixels are disposed includes a scanning area. The one or more controllers control the imaging element such that at least parts of exposure periods of the pixels disposed in at least a part of the scanning area overlap each other, in a case in which the light quantity is less than a predetermined quantity. The one or more controllers control the illuminator such that the light source is turned on in a period in which at least parts of the exposure periods of the pixels disposed in at least a part of the scanning area overlap each other, in a case in which the light quantity is less than the predetermined quantity.
Abstract:
The present solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a light receiving element with a photoelectric conversion function; a readout circuit that reads out pixel information from the light receiving element, and outputs an output voltage; a CDS circuit that is composed of three-stage common source circuits, and generates a pixel signal based on a difference between an output voltage output from the readout circuit at the time of reset and an output voltage output based on the readout of the pixel information, the three-stage common source circuits being connected in series to one another and provided with direct-current cut elements that are each disposed on a corresponding one of input paths of the three-stage common source circuits; and a bias voltage supply circuit that supplies a direct-current bias voltage to gates of transistors of the three-stage common source circuits.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, a method of operating an image sensor supporting a low speed mode and a high speed mode includes: outputting a first set of output signals from a first pixel group to a first output line group by enabling, during a first period of the low speed mode, a first load circuit group connected to the first set of output signals; outputting a second set of output signals from a second pixel group to a second output line group by enabling, during a second period of the low speed mode different from the first period, a second load circuit group connected to the second set of output signals; and disabling the second load circuit group during at least a part of the first period.
Abstract:
While a drain power source of a reset transistor and a drain power source of an amplifying transistor are separated, the load of drain power source can be reduced by sharing a drain diffusion layer of the reset transistor and a drain diffusion layer of the amplifying transistor by adjacent cells in sharing pixel units. Further, an efficient pixel layout is provided by reducing the number of routing wires.
Abstract:
An image reading apparatus includes an image reading chip configured to read an image. The image reading chip includes a first pixel unit which generates a first pixel signal, a second pixel unit which generates a second pixel signal, a first amplification unit which amplifies the first pixel signal, and outputs a first amplification signal, a second amplification unit which amplifies the second pixel signal, and outputs a second amplification signal, and a third amplification unit that amplifies each of the first amplification signal and the second amplification signal, and outputs an amplified signal. The image reading chip has a shape which includes a first side and a second side shorter than the first side. The third amplification unit is disposed between the first amplification unit and the second amplification unit in a direction along the first side.