Solid state image sensor with readout modes having different drive phases
AssigneeFuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
InventorTetsuo Toma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid state image pickup device having: a mode selector for selecting one of first and second modes; a plurality of photoelectric converters for converting received light into electric charges; transfer paths each having a plurality of packets for receiving the electric charges from the plurality of photoelectric converters and transferring the electric charges in each packet; a controller for reading the electric charges from each of the plurality of photoelectric converters and supplying the read electric charges to the transfer paths; and a driver for driving the transfer means in the selected first or second mode at the number of drive phases different from the number of drive phases of the non-selected mode.
Claims13
A solid state image pickup device comprising:
- mode selecting means for selecting one of first and second modes;
- a plurality of photoelectric converters for converting received light into electric charges;
- transfer means having a plurality of packets for receiving the electric charges from the plurality of photoelectric converters and transferring the electric charges in each packet;
- gate means for reading the electric charges from each of the plurality of photoelectric converters and supplying the read electric charges to said transfer means;
- and
- drive means for driving said transfer means in the selected first or second mode at the number of drive phases different from the number of drive phases of the non-selected mode;
- wherein said gate means operates in such a manner that the number of the plurality of photoelectric converters read at the same time in the first mode is larger than the number of photoelectric converters read at the same time in the second mode.
A charge transfer method comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting one of first and second modes;
- (b) reading electric charges from each of a plurality of photoelectric converters and supplying the read electric charges to transfer means;
- and
- (c) driving the transfer means in the selected first or second mode at the number of drive phases different from the number of drive phases of the non-selected mode;
- wherein said step (b) operates in such a manner that the number of the plurality of photoelectric converters read at the same time in the first mode is larger than the number of photoelectric converters read at the same time in the second mode.
A solid state image pickup device comprising:
- mode selecting means for selecting one of first and second modes;
- a plurality of photoelectric converters for converting received light into electric charges;
- a vertical transfer device having a plurality of packets for receiving the electric charges from the plurality of photoelectric converters and transferring the electric charges in each packet;
- a gate for reading the electric charges from each of the plurality of photoelectric converters and supplying the read electric charges to said vertical transfer device;
- drive means for driving said vertical transfer device in the selected first or second mode at the number of drive phases different from the number of drive phases of the non-selected mode for receiving electric charges;
- and
- a horizontal transfer device receiving electric charges output from the vertical transfer device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.