Driving apparatus for solid state image sensors

Claim 2

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors used for an electronic still camera for taking a still picture with a solid state image sensor (1), and adapted to generate timing pulses for carrying out an exposure operation of the solid state image sensor (1) and reading electric charges occurring in a light receiving portion of the solid state image sensor (1) due to the exposure of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means (13) for generating timing pulses for carrying out the exposure and reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1),and a sweeping action controller (32) adapted to make in said timing pulse generating means (13) when a predetermined voltage is applied from the outside thereto a timing pulse for sweeping the electric charges, which are accumulated in the light receiving element (45) in the solid state image sensor (1), to the outside, wherein the predetermined voltage is applied to the sweeping action controller (32) before the starting of the exposure operation to carry out an operation of sweeping out the electric charges in the solid state image sensor (1).

Claim 3

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors used in an electronic still camera for taking a still picture with a solid state image sensor (1), and adapted to generate timing pulses for carrying out an exposure operation of the solid state image sensor (1) and reading electric charges occurring in a light receiving portion of the solid state image sensor (1) due to the exposure of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means (13) for generating the timing pulses for carrying out the exposure and reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1), and a sweeping action controller (32) for generating in said timing pulse generating means (13) a timing pulse for sweeping out the electric charges accumulated in the light receiving portion of the solid state image sensor (1), wherein the sweeping of unnecessary electric charges in the light receiving element (45) and a vertical transfer unit (53) in the solid state image sensor (1) is done when the exposure for a first shot during a high-speed continuous photographing operation is started, and wherein the sweeping of the unnecessary electric charges in at least one of the light receiving element (45) and the vertical transfer unit (53) is omitted when the exposure for second and subsequent shots is started.

Claim 4

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors used in an electronic still camera for taking a still picture with a solid state image sensor (1), and adapted to generate timing pulses for carrying out an exposure operation of the solid state image sensor (1) and reading electric charges occurring in a light receiving portion of the solid state image sensor (1) due to the exposure of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means (13) for generating the timing pulses for carrying out the exposure and reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1), and a sweeping action controller (32) for generating in said timing pulse generating means (13) a timing pulse for sweeping out the electric charges accumulated in the light receiving portion of the solid state image sensor (1), wherein the sweeping of unnecessary electric charges in the light receiving element (45) and a vertical transfer unit (53) in the solid state image sensor (1) is done when the exposure for a first shot during a high-speed continuous photographing operation is started, and wherein the sweeping of the unnecessary electric charges in at least one of the light receiving element (45) and the vertical transfer unit (53) is omitted when the exposure for second and subsequent shots is started.

Claim 5

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors used for an electronic still camera, and adapted to generate timing pulses for carrying out an exposure operation of a solid state image sensor (1) and its operation of reading electric charges occurring in a light receiving element (45) in the solid state image sensor (1) due to the exposure of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means (13) for generating timing pulses for carrying out the exposure and electric charge reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1), and a controller for making in said timing pulse generating means (13) the timing pulses for the exposure and reading operations alternately field by field when a predetermined voltage is applied from the outside thereto, wherein the exposure and electric charge reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1) are carried out alternately in succession by applying the predetermined voltage to this controller.

Claim 6

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors used for an electronic still camera, and adapted to generate timing pulses for carrying out an exposure operation of a solid state image sensor (1) and its operation of reading electric charges occurring in a light receiving element (45) in the solid state image sensor (1) due to the exposure of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means (13) for generating timing pulses for carrying out the exposure and electric charge reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1), and a controller for making in said timing pulse generating means (13) the timing pulses for the exposure and reading operations alternately field by field when a predetermined voltage is applied from the outside thereto, wherein the exposure and electric charge reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1) are carried out alternately in succession by applying the predetermined voltage to this controller.

Claim 7

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors adapted to generate a timing pulse and a synchronizing signal for an exposure operation of a solid state image sensor (1) and its operation of reading an electric charge occurring due to the exposure, of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means for generating horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, a means (58) for generating timing pulses for the exposure and reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1), and a means (22) for resetting' the synchronizing signal generating means in accordance with a reference signal applied thereto from the outside, wherein the reset means (22) resets the synchronizing signal generating means for said vertical synchronizing signal only after the completion of the exposure operation of the solid state image sensor (1), and the synchronizing signal generating means generates the vertical synchronizing signal at only a predetermined time after it has been reset.

Claim 8

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors adapted to generate a timing pulse and a synchronizing signal for an exposure operation of a solid state image sensor (1) and its operation of reading an electric charge occurring due to the exposure, of the film, the improvement characterized by comprising a means for generating horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, a means (58) for generating timing pulses for the exposure and reading operations of the solid state image sensor (1), and a means (22) for resetting' the synchronizing signal generating means in accordance with a reference signal applied thereto from the outside, wherein the reset means (22) resets the synchronizing signal generating means for said vertical synchronizing signal only after the completion of the exposure operation of the solid state image sensor (1), and the synchronizing signal generating means generates the vertical synchronizing signal at only a predetermined time after it has been reset.

Claim 9

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors, adapted to take pictures with strobe light by driving a solid state image sensor having photo sensors (51) adapted to generate an electric charge when it receives light, a vertical transfer unit (53) adapted to vertically transfer the electric charge generated in the photo sensor (51), a horizontal transfer unit (54) adapted to horizontally transfer the electric charge from the vertical transfer unit (53) to output the same to the outside, and a gate (52) disposed between the photo sensor (51) and the vertical transfer unit (53) and capable of being switched to an ON-state or an Off-state, the improvement characterized by comprising a means for starting an exposure after the electric charges accumulated in the photo sensor (51) have been transferred to the vertical transfer unit (53), a means (58) for giving instructions to turn on a strobe (42) on the basis of a predetermined shutter speed after the lapse of a predetermined period of time, a first exposure ending means (56) for turning on the gate (52) when proper exposure has been attained in the midst of an emission of light from the strobe (42) and transferring signal charges occurring in the photo sensor (51) to the vertical transfer unit (53) to finish the exposure, and a second exposure ending means for turning on the gate (52) after the emission of light from the strobe (42) has been completed and transferring the signal charges occurring in the photo sensor (51) to the vertical transfer unit (53) to finish the exposure.

Claim 10

In a driving apparatus (11) for solid state image sensors, adapted to take pictures with strobe light by driving a solid state image sensor having photo sensors (51) adapted to generate an electric charge when it receives light, a vertical transfer unit (53) adapted to vertically transfer the electric charge generated in the photo sensor (51), a horizontal transfer unit (54) adapted to horizontally transfer the electric charge from the vertical transfer unit (53) to output the same to the outside, and a gate (52) disposed between the photo sensor (51) and the vertical transfer unit (53) and capable of being switched to an ON-state or an Off-state, the improvement characterized by comprising a means for starting an exposure after the electric charges accumulated in the photo sensor (51) have been transferred to the vertical transfer unit (53), a means (58) for giving instructions to turn on a strobe (42) on the basis of a predetermined shutter speed after the lapse of a predetermined period of time, a first exposure ending means (56) for turning on the gate (52) when proper exposure has been attained in the midst of an emission of light from the strobe (42) and transferring signal charges occurring in the photo sensor (51) to the vertical transfer unit (53) to finish the exposure, and a second exposure ending means for turning on the gate (52) after the emission of light from the strobe (42) has been completed and transferring the signal charges occurring in the photo sensor (51) to the vertical transfer unit (53) to finish the exposure.