US4584611A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for driving a CCD image sensor
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1983-08-02
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Granted: 1986-04-22
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Expires: 2003-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for driving a CCD image sensor is provided in which the time period of subscan can be a continuous value responsive to the amount of image information received by the CCD image sensor. The control time periods of the CCD image sensor are separated into first control time periods which are fixed in duration and second control time periods which are variable. The first and second control time periods alternate. Image information signals are obtained by exposure of the CCD image sensor during the first control time periods and are outputted during the second control time periods. These second control time periods vary in accordance with the amount of image information received by the CCD image sensor during the first control time periods.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunsuke Katahira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40056; H04N1/04; H04N1/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
In facsimile type equipment having a CCD image sensor which is exposed to receive and temporarily store image information signals during a first control time period of fixed duration and then output these image information signals during a second control time period, the first and second control time periods alternating with each other as images are successively exposed to said CCD image sensor, a CCD image sensor driving apparatus comprising: memory means coupled to said CCD image sensor for receiving and temporarily storing only the image information signals generated by said CCD image sensor during successive first control time periods, said memory means disregarding any image information signals generated by said CCD image sensor during successive second control time periods; encoder means coupled to said memory means for successively encoding the image information signals read out from said memory means; detecting circuit means responsive to the storage condition of said memory means for generating a storage signal representative of the current amount of storage of image information signals in said memory means; and control circuit means coupled to said detecting circuit means and responsive to said storage signal for generating control signals which are coupled to said CCD image sensor to vary the length of each second control time period in accordance with the amount of storage of image information signals in said memory means, the second control time period being greater than or equal to the amount of time required to transfer the image information signals from said memory means to thereby optimize the time period of the second control time period and increase the speed of the facsimile type equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
In facsimile type equipment having a CCD image sensor which is exposed to receive and temporarily store image information signals during a first control time period of fixed duration and then output these image information signals during a second control time period, the first and second control time periods alternating with each other as images are successively exposed to said CCD image sensor, a CCD image sensor driving apparatus comprising: memory means coupled to said CCD image sensor for receiving and temporarily storing only the image information signals generated by said CCD image sensor during successive first control time periods, said memory means disregarding any image information signals generated by said CCD image sensor during successive second control time periods; encoder means coupled to said memory means for successively encoding the image information signals read out from said memory means; detecting circuit means responsive to the storage condition of said memory means for generating a storage signal representative of the current amount of storage of image information signals in said memory means; and control circuit means coupled to said detecting circuit means and responsive to said storage signal for generating control signals which are coupled to said CCD image sensor to vary the length of each second control time period in accordance with the amount of storage of image information signals in said memory means, the second control time period being greater than or equal to the amount of time required to transfer the image information signals from said memory means to thereby optimize the time period of the second control time period and increase the speed of the facsimile type equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A CCD image sensor driving apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising counter means coupled to said control circuit means for receiving the control signals and generating scanning step pulses which determine the length of the second control time periods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A CCD image sensor driving apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said detecting circuit means includes an up-down counter which counts up or down in accordance with the image information signals incoming to said memory means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
A CCD image sensor driving apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said detecting circuit means includes a first up-down counter and a second up-down counter, said first counter counting up or down in accordance with the image information signals incoming to said memory means and said second counter counting up or down by one according to the result of comparing the output of said first counter and the output of said second counter to thereby prevent any rapid variation in the storage signal outputted by said detecting circuit means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for driving a CCD image sensor in facsimile type equipment comprising the following steps: generating first control time periods for said CCD image sensor, the first control time periods having a fixed duration which said CCD image sensor is exposed to receive and temporarily store image information signals; generating second control time periods for said CCD image sensor, each second control time period hving a variable duration during which said CCD image sensor outputs the image information signals temporarily stored in said CCD image sensor during a transfer output time period, the second control time periods alternating with the first control time periods and each second control time period having a variable duration greater than or equal to the transfer output time period and which varies in accordance with the amount of image information temporarily stored in said CCD image sensor during the first control time periods.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for driving a CCD image sensor in facsimile type equipment comprising the following steps: generating first control time periods for said CCD image sensor, the first control time periods having a fixed duration which said CCD image sensor is exposed to receive and temporarily store image information signals; generating second control time periods for said CCD image sensor, each second control time period hving a variable duration during which said CCD image sensor outputs the image information signals temporarily stored in said CCD image sensor during a transfer output time period, the second control time periods alternating with the first control time periods and each second control time period having a variable duration greater than or equal to the transfer output time period and which varies in accordance with the amount of image information temporarily stored in said CCD image sensor during the first control time periods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method for driving a CCD image sensor according to claim 5 further comprising the steps of: temporarily storing the image information signals outputted by said CCD image sensor in a memory device; generating storage signals representative of the amount of image information currently stored in said memory device; and varying the duration of the second control time periods of said CCD image sensor in response to the storage signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4160279A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-21 | 1989-10-21 | 1990-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-21 | 1993-10-21 | 1994-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-21 | 1997-10-21 | 1998-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |