Signal charge transferring method in image sensor in which clock signal phase is switched
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorShinichi Kawai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensor includes photoelectric converting elements arranged in a column direction. Each of the converting elements generates signal charge. K transfer electrodes (k is a positive integer more than 1) are provided for each of the photoelectric converting elements in the column direction. 2k signal lines are connected to the transfer electrodes for adjacent two of said photoelectric converting elements. The 2k signal lines are used to supply driving clock signals to the transfer electrodes for the adjacent two photoelectric converting elements, respectively. As a result, the signal charges are transferred based on the driving clock signals.
Claims16
An image sensor comprising:
- photoelectric converting elements arranged in a column direction, for generating signal charges, respectively;
- k transfer electrodes (k is a positive integer more than 1) provided for each of said photoelectric converting elements in the column direction;
- and
- 2k signal lines connected to said transfer electrodes for adjacent two of said photoelectric converting elements, and used to supply driving clock signals to said transfer electrodes for adjacent two photoelectric converting elements, respectively, such that the signal charges are transferred based on said driving clock signals.
A method of transferring signal charge in an image sensor, comprising the steps of:
- generating signal charges by photoelectric converting elements arranged in a column direction;
- outputting driving clock signals to 2k (k is a positive integer more than 1) signal lines;
- transferring the signal charges by transfer electrodes in response to said driving clock signals, wherein k ones of said transfer electrodes are provided for each of said photoelectric converting elements in the column direction, and 2k continues ones of said transfer electrodes are respectively connected to said 2k signal lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.