US4835404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric converting apparatus with a switching circuit and a resetting circuit for reading and resetting a plurality of lines sensors
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1987-09-14
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Granted: 1989-05-30
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Expires: 2007-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric converting device having a plurality of line sensors, each line sensor having an output line and scanning means for scanning that line sensor. Selection circuit selectably directs a signal from one of the plural output lines to a common output terminal. A reset device resets the common output line to a predetermined level in response to the scanning of the line after the signal has been directed to the common output terminal. The readout may be conducted by scanning the plurality of line sensors by alternatively scanning photoelectric conversion cells from different line sensors.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigetoshi Sugawa
- 👤 Nobuyoshi Tanaka
- 👤 Toshiji Suzuki
- 👤 Akira Ishizaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:28
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/197; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/40; H04N25/41; H04N25/70; H04N25/701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of sensor blocks each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; (b) a plurality of scanning means each capable of independently scanning an associated sensor block; (c) common amplification means for amplifying the signals from the sensor blocks; (d) switch means for selectively directing a signal from each sensor block to said common amplification means; and (e) reset means for resetting the signal from each sensor block which is directed to said common amplification means to a predetermined level after the scanning of each photoelectric conversion cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of sensor blocks each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; (b) a plurality of scanning means each capable of independently scanning an associated sensor block; (c) common amplification means for amplifying the signals from the sensor blocks; (d) switch means for selectively directing a signal from each sensor block to said common amplification means; and (e) reset means for resetting the signal from each sensor block which is directed to said common amplification means to a predetermined level after the scanning of each photoelectric conversion cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of capacitors for temporarily storing a signal from each of said photoelectric conversion cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each photoelectric conversion cell includes a bipolar transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said each sensor block has an output signal line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of scanning means scan alternately.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said switch means is coupled between said common output signal line and said amplification means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising clear means for clearing a signal on said output signal line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said scanning means scans a signal from a photoelectric conversion cell alternately in one sensor block and then in another sensor block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein after said scanning means has completed a scan of all the signals from one sensor block, said scanning means starts scanning all the signals from another sensor block.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of sensor blocks each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; (b) scanning means for scanning said plurality of sensor blocks by alternately scanning a photoelectric conversion cell from a different block; (c) common amplification means for amplifying signals from said sensor blocks; and (d) switch means for selectively directing one signal at a time from said sensor blocks to said common amplification means in response to the scanning of said scanning means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of sensor blocks each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; (b) scanning means for scanning said plurality of sensor blocks by alternately scanning a photoelectric conversion cell from a different block; (c) common amplification means for amplifying signals from said sensor blocks; and (d) switch means for selectively directing one signal at a time from said sensor blocks to said common amplification means in response to the scanning of said scanning means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: (a) reset means for resetting the signal from each sensor block which is directed to said common amplification means to a predetermined level after the alternate scanning of each photoelectric conversion cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a capacitor for temporarily storing a signal from at least one photoelectric conversion cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each photoelectric conversion cell includes a bipolar transistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said each sensor block has an output signal line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photoelectrically converting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said switch means is coupled between the output signal lines and said common amplification means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising clear means for clearing a signal n at least one output signal line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of line sensors, each line sensor having a common output line and scanning means for scanning the corresponding line sensor; (b) selection means for selectively directing a signal on a common output line for each line sensor to a common output terminal; and (c) reset means for resetting said common output line, after its signal has been directed to the common output terminal; to a predetermined level in response to the scanning of the associated scanning means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of line sensors, each line sensor having a common output line and scanning means for scanning the corresponding line sensor; (b) selection means for selectively directing a signal on a common output line for each line sensor to a common output terminal; and (c) reset means for resetting said common output line, after its signal has been directed to the common output terminal; to a predetermined level in response to the scanning of the associated scanning means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said scanning means includes a shift register.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said selection means is coupled between said output line and said common output terminal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said selection means performs a selection operation by selecting one of the output lines.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said selection means performs a selection operation, during the scanning of all the signals from a line sensor, by selecting a corresponding output line for said line sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said scanning means alternately scans a part of each line sensor, and wherein said selection means selects a corresponding one among said output lines only during the scanning of each line sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-29 | 1992-11-28 | 1993-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-29 | 1996-11-28 | 1997-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-29 | 2000-11-28 | 2001-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |