US4868405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photoelectric converting apparatus having a common region connecting either sources or drains to a common signal line
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1987-11-03
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Granted: 1989-09-19
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Expires: 2007-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric converting apparatus having a plurality of photosensors and a plurality of transistors of the insulative gate type which select the signals from the photosensors and output to a signal line. Source or drain regions which are connected to the signal line are formed as a common region in a desired number of transistors, thereby reducing the wiring capacitance of the signal line.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichi Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:24
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/197
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: a plurality of photosensors; and a plurality of transistors of an insulative gate type, each having a source and a drain electrode, for selecting signals from said photosensors to output to a signal line, wherein the source regions or the drain regions of a predetermined number of said transistors are formed as a common region, said common region being connected to said signal line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A photoelectric converting apparatus comprising: a plurality of photosensors; and a plurality of transistors of an insulative gate type, each having a source and a drain electrode, for selecting signals from said photosensors to output to a signal line, wherein the source regions or the drain regions of a predetermined number of said transistors are formed as a common region, said common region being connected to said signal line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said photosensor comprises a sensor of a type for (1) performing an accumulating operation to accumulate carriers generated by a light excitation of a control electrode region of a semiconductor transistor by controlling a potential of said control electrode region, (2) a reading operation to read out an accumulated voltage which was generated by said accumulating operation, and (3) a refreshing operation to extinguish the accumulated carriers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said photosensor reads out an output signal as a voltage signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said photosensor has a capacitive load.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said common region comprises a drain region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said photosensor includes a bipolar transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of signal sources; and (b) a plurality of switching means for selectively connecting an output of each of said signal sources to a common signal line, wherein each of said switching means includes (b-1) a control electrode region, (b-2) a first main electrode region connected to each of said signal sources, and (b-3) a second main electrode region connected to said common signal line, said second main electrode region also serving as a second main electrode region for at least one other switching means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of signal sources; and (b) a plurality of switching means for selectively connecting an output of each of said signal sources to a common signal line, wherein each of said switching means includes (b-1) a control electrode region, (b-2) a first main electrode region connected to each of said signal sources, and (b-3) a second main electrode region connected to said common signal line, said second main electrode region also serving as a second main electrode region for at least one other switching means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each said signal source comprises a photosensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said photosensor has a capacitive load.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each said signal source includes a bipolar transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each said switching means includes a transistor of an insulative gate type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second main electrode region comprises a drain region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a shift register for sequentially supplying a control signal to a control electrode of each of said switching means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an output amplifier to output a signal from said common signal line as a voltage signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising signal processing means for controlling a gain of the signal transmitted through said output amplifier.
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) | 1992-09-18 | 1993-03-20 | 1993-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-18 | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-18 | 2001-03-20 | 2001-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |