Linear color charge coupled device for image sensor and method of driving the same

A linear color CCD for an image sensor comprising:

• photodiode array means for performing a photoelectric conversion operation to produce signal charges corresponding to red, green and blue color signals, said photodiode array means having a first photodiode array for producing the signal charges corresponding to the green color signal, a second photodiode array disposed over said first photodiode array for producing the signal charges corresponding to the red color signal and a third photodiode array disposed under said first photodiode array for producing the signal charges corresponding to the blue color signal;
• horizontal CCD analog shift register means for shifting the signal charges from said photodiode array means horizontally, said horizontal CCD analog shift register means having a first horizontal CCD analog shift register disposed between said first and second photodiode arrays to shift the signal charges from said first and second photodiodes horizontally and a second horizontal CCD analog shift register disposed between said first and third photodiode arrays to shift the signal charges from said first and third photodiodes horizontally;
• and
• shift gate means for shifting the signal charges from said photodiode array means to said horizontal CCD analog shift register means upon being turned on, said shift gate means having a first shift gate disposed over said first horizontal CCD analog shift register to shift the signal charges from said second photodiode array to said first horizontal CCD analog shift register upon being turned on, a second shift gate disposed under said first horizontal CCD analog shift register to shift the signal charges from said first photodiode array to said first horizontal CCD analog shift register upon being turned on, a third shift gate disposed over said second horizontal CCD analog shift register to shift the signal charges from said first photodiode array to said second horizontal CCD analog shift register upon being turned on and a fourth shift gate disposed under said second horizontal CCD analog shift register to shift the signal charges from said third photodiode array to said second horizontal CCD analog shift register upon being turned on.