US4845566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state image pickup apparatus having controllable means for eliminating surplus charge
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1987-05-19
•
Granted: 1989-07-04
•
Expires: 2007-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A solid-state image pickup apparatus having an electrode to eliminate surplus charges by surface charge recombination. The operating frequency which is applied to the electrode to perform the recombination is changed in accordance with the variable exposure time during the converting operation to change anti-blooming capability.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Sakai
- 👤 Masahiro Takei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/62; H04N25/621; H04N25/622; H04N25/63; H04N25/70; H04N25/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) signal generating means for alternately changing a level of a partial potential in said image sensing means during the converting operation; (c) setting means for variably setting a time period of the converting operation; and (d) control means for variably controlling a frequency of the alternate changing of the level in accordance with the time period set by said setting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) signal generating means for alternately changing a level of a partial potential in said image sensing means during the converting operation; (c) setting means for variably setting a time period of the converting operation; and (d) control means for variably controlling a frequency of the alternate changing of the level in accordance with the time period set by said setting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image sensing means eliminates a part of the electrical signal converted in the image sensing means by changing the level of the partial potential during the converting operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means forms a predetermined potential well in said image sensing means during the converting operation and also alternately changes the height of a part of said potential well.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means alternately changes the level of the partial potential only during the converting operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an exposure member for shutting off light which enters said image sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said setting means sets the time period of the converting operation by setting an opening time of said exposure member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said signal generating means starts to alternately change the level of the partial potential when said exposure member is open.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said signal generating means stops the alternate changing of the level of the partial potential when said exposure member is closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means sets said frequency low when the period of time set by said setting means is relatively long, and said control means sets said frequency high when the period of time set by said setting means is relatively short.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal during a selected one of various predetermined periods, said image sensing means being able to variably control an anti-blooming capability; and (b) control means for changing the anti-blooming capability of said image sensing means in accordance with the length of said predetermined period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal during a selected one of various predetermined periods, said image sensing means being able to variably control an anti-blooming capability; and (b) control means for changing the anti-blooming capability of said image sensing means in accordance with the length of said predetermined period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said anti-blooming capability can be varied by changing the level of a partial pontential in said image sensing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said image sensing means eliminates a part of the electrical signal in said image sensing means by changing the level of the partial potential during the converting operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal, said image sensing means being able to variably control an anti-blooming capability; (b) a shutter for changing a light incident time of said image sensing means; and (c) control means for variably controlling said anti-blooming capability in accordance with the length of the light incident time of the image sensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal, said image sensing means being able to variably control an anti-blooming capability; (b) a shutter for changing a light incident time of said image sensing means; and (c) control means for variably controlling said anti-blooming capability in accordance with the length of the light incident time of the image sensing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image sensing means eliminates a part of the electrical signal in the image sensing means by changing the anti-blooming capability during the converting operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image pickup appartus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) exposure control means for changing an exposure time of said image sensing means; and (c) control means for changing the level of a partial potential in the image sensing means during the converting operation in the image sensing means, and for changing a frequency of the changing in accordance with the exposure time by said exposure control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image pickup appartus comprising: (a) image sensing means for converting an optical image into an electrical signal; (b) exposure control means for changing an exposure time of said image sensing means; and (c) control means for changing the level of a partial potential in the image sensing means during the converting operation in the image sensing means, and for changing a frequency of the changing in accordance with the exposure time by said exposure control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image sensing means eliminates a part of the electrical signal in the image sensing means by changing the level of the partial potential during the converting operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means forms a predetermined potential well in said image sensing means during the converting operation and also periodically changes the height of a part of said potential well.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said exposure control means changes the exposure time using a shutter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means starts to change the potential level when said shutter is open.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said control means stops the change of the potential level when said shutter is closed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means sets the frequency low when the exposure time is relatively long, and said control means sets the frequency high when the exposure time is relatively short.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3896485A
Cited
US3953733A
Cited
JPS5246677A
Cited
US4233632A
Cited
US4328432A
Cited
US4485315A
Cited
US4622596A
Cited
US4644403A
Cited
US4774585A
Cited
US4663669A
Cited
JPS60223389A
Cited
US4723169A
Cited
US4743778A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-03 | 1993-01-02 | 1993-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-03 | 1997-01-02 | 1997-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-03 | 2001-01-02 | 2001-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |