Method of driving interline transfer type CCD imager

The method of claim i, wherein said first accumulation regions each comprise first and second transfer regions and said second accumulation regions each comprise third and fourth transfer regions, and wherein:

• said step of reading out a signal charge accumulated in said first light receiving pixels comprises driving a potential of each of said first transfer regions at a high level substantially above the potential of said corresponding first light receiving pixels while driving a potential of each of said second and fourth transfer regions adjacent said first vertical transfer regions at a low level below that of said first light receiving pixels;
• said step of transferring part of the signal charge accumulated in said first accumulation regions comprises driving the potential of each of said second transfer regions at a first intermediate level between said low and high levels, and lowering the level at which the potential of said first transfer regions are driven to a second intermediate level between said low and high levels to effect a transfer of at least a part of said charge in each of said first transfer regions to said respectively second transfer regions, and then driving the potential of each of said second transfer regions at said low level while driving the potential of each of said first and third light receiving pixels at said second intermediate levels to effect a transfer of at least part of said charge transferred to said second transfer regions to said respective third transfer regions;
• said step of reading out another signal accumulated in said second light receiving pixels comprises driving the potential of each of said third transfer regions at a high level substantially above the potential of said second light receiving pixels while driving the potential of each of said second and fourth vertical transfer units adjacent said third vertical transfer regions at said low level below that of said second light receiving pixels;
• and
• said step of transferring the remaining part comprises driving the potential of each of said second transfer regions at said first intermediate level and driving the potential of said third transfer region at said second intermediate level.

A method of transferring signal charges in an interline transfer type charge coupled device (CCD) image, said CCD imager comprising a pair of elements for receiving charge, a first accumulation region adjacent a first of said elements and a second accumulation region adjacent a second of said elements, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading out a signal charge from said first of said elements to said first accumulation region;
• transferring part of said signal charge from said first accumulation region to said second accumulation region;
• reading out another signal charge from said second of said elements to said second accumulation region so as to add said another signal charge to said part of said signal charge;
• and
• transferring a remaining part of said signal charge which is accumulated in said first accumulation region to said second accumulation region so as to add said remaining part of said signal charge to said added signal charges in said second accumulation region.

A method of transferring signal charges in an interline transfer type charge coupled device (CCD) imager, said CCD imager comprising a plurality of first elements for receiving charge and a plurality of second elements for receiving charge arranged in alternating order in a column, and a vertical transfer unit including a plurality of electrode groups each including first to fourth transfer regions arranged in numbered order in a column adjacent said column of first and second elements, said first and second transfer regions of each electrode group being located adjacent a corresponding one of said first elements, and said third and fourth transfer regions of each electrode group being located adjacent a corresponding one of said second elements, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) driving a potential of each of said first transfer regions at a high level substantially above the potential of said corresponding first element while driving a potential of each of said second and fourth transfer regions adjacent said first vertical transfer regions at a low level below that of said first element to transfer a charge on said first element to said first transfer region;
• (b) driving the potential of each of said second transfer regions at a first intermediate level between said low and high levels and lowering the level at which the potential of said first transfer regions are driven to a second intermediate level between said low and high levels to effect a transfer of at least a part of said charge in each of said first transfer regions to said respective second transfer regions;
• (c) driving the potential of each of said second transfer regions at said low level while driving the potential of each of said first and third elements at said second intermediate levels to effect a transfer of at least part of said charge transferred to said second transfer regions to said respective third transfer regions, and then driving the potential of each of said third transfer regions at a high level substantially above the potential of said second element while driving the potential of each of said second and fourth vertical transfer units adjacent said third vertical transfer regions at said low level below that of said second element to transfer a charge on said second element to said third transfer region;
• and
• (d) driving the potential of each of said second transfer regions at said first intermediate level and driving the potential of said third transfer region at said second intermediate level to effect a combination of said charges from said first and second elements within said second and third transfer regions.