System and method for controlling photosensitive charge transfers

A photosensitive system, comprising:

• an array of photosensitive elements;
• a transfer gate coupled to the photosensitive elements;
• a charge transfer register having a plurality of cells coupled to the transfer gate, each of the cells configured to receive charges from a respective one of the photosensitive elements via the transfer gate, the charge transfer register configured to shift the charges out of the charge transfer register;
• and
• a controller configured to control the transfer gate such that charges are collected in each of the photosensitive elements and transferred, via the transfer gate, to the charge transfer register, the controller further configured to enable the transfer gate during a time period when the charge transfer register is shifting a set of charges previously transferred from the array of photosensitive elements to the charge transfer register such that charges from one of the photosensitive elements are transferred into a particular cell of the charge transfer register via the transfer gate as charges from at least one other of the photosensitive elements are shifted by the charge transfer register into the particular cell.

A photosensitive system, comprising:

• means for sensing light intensity and for producing first, second, and third sets of charges based on the light intensity sensed by the sensing means;
• means for receiving and shifting charges, the receiving and shifting means having at least a first cell and a second cell;
• means for transferring the first, second, and third sets of charges from the sensing and producing means to the receiving and shifting means, wherein the first and second sets of charges transfer from the transferring means directly to the first cell and wherein the third set of charges transfers from the transferring means directly to the second cell;
• and
• means for controlling the transferring means such that charges are prevented from transferring from the sensing and producing means to the receiving and shifting means while the first set of charges is being shifted by the receivihg and shifting means and such that the third set of charges is enabled to transfer from the sensing and producing means to the receiving and shifting means while the second set of charges is being shifted by the receiving and shifting means thereby mixing the second set of charges with the third set of charges in the second cell.

A method for controlling charge transfers for photosensitive arrays, comprising:

• collecting charges within an array of photosensitive elements and transferring the charges, via a transfer gate, to a charge transfer register during sample exposure periods;
• enabling the transfer gate between successive sample exposure periods;
• controlling a duration of a time period that the transfer gate remains continuously enabled via the enabling based on a desired duration for one of the sample exposure periods;
• and
• shifting charges through the charge transfer register while the transfer gate remains continuously enabled via the enabling such that charges transferred from one of the photosensitive elements mixes with charges transferred from another of the photosensitive elements.

A method for controlling charge transfers for photosensitive arrays, comprising:

• collecting a first set of charges within an array of photosensitive elements and transferring the first set of charges to a charge transfer register;
• transferring a second set of charges from the photosensitive elements to the charge transfer register;
• shifting the first set of charges out of the charge transfer register;
• shifting the second set of charges out of the charge transfer register;
• preventing charges collected in the photosensitive elements from transferring to the charge transfer register while the first set of charges remains in the charge transfer register;
• and
• transferring a third set of charges from the photosensitive elements into a particular cell of the charge transfer register as the second set of charges are shifted by the charge transfer register into the particular cell thereby mixing the second set of charges with the third set of charges in the particular cell.

A photosensitive system, comprising:

• an array of photosensitive elements;
• a charge transfer register having a plurality of cells, each of the cells coupled to a respective one of the photosensitive elements, the charge transfer register configured to shift charges received from the photosensitive elements through the cells such that charges in each of the cells are respectively shifted into an adjacent one of the cells until arriving at an end cell of the charge transfer register, wherein charges in the end cell are shifted out of the charge transfer register;
• a transfer gate coupled to the photosensitive elements and to the charge transfer register, wherein the transfer gate, when enabled, allows charges in each of the photosensitive elements to transfer to a respective one of the cells of the charge transfer register and, when disabled, prevents charges in the photosensitive elements from transferring to the cells of the charge transfer register;
• and
• a controller configured to control the transfer gate, the controller further configured to enable the transfer gate when the charge transfer register is shifting, through the cells, a set of charges previously transferred from the array of photosensitive elements to the charge transfer register.