US4972243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric conversion apparatus with shielded cell
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-20
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Granted: 1990-11-20
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Expires: 2009-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric conversion apparatus has a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells. Each cell includes a semiconductor transistor having a control electrode area which in turn includes a plurality of main electrode areas for reading signals. The potential of the control electrode area is controlled to store carriers produced by optical pumping in the control electrode area, to read, from the main electrode area, a signal controlled by the storage voltage produced due to the storage, and to perform a refreshing operation to nullify the carriers stored in the control electrode area. A device is provided for performing a peak detection on the basis of signals from the main electrode area. At least one of the photoelectric conversion cells is shielded from light. The peak detection device performs the peak detection by detecting the difference between a peak signal obtained on the basis of a signal from the photoelectric conversion cells and a dark signal from the photoelectric conversion cells shielded from light.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigetoshi Sugawa
- 👤 Nobuyoshi Tanaka
- 👤 Toshiji Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/70; H04N25/76; H04N25/60; H04N25/63; H04N25/633; H04N25/77; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/197; H10F39/80; H10F39/805; H10F39/8057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by incident light, and at least one photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from the incident light, each of said photoelectric conversion elements comprising a transistor including a base, a collector and first and second emitters, the first emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light being commonly connected; (b) first output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a difference between an output of said first emitters connected commonly and an output of one emitter of said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from light; and (c) second output means for outputting outputs of the second emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by incident light, and at least one photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from the incident light, each of said photoelectric conversion elements comprising a transistor including a base, a collector and first and second emitters, the first emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light being commonly connected; (b) first output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a difference between an output of said first emitters connected commonly and an output of one emitter of said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from light; and (c) second output means for outputting outputs of the second emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first accumulation means for respectively accumulating outputs of said second emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising readout means for reading out said outputs accumulated in said first accumulation means in a predetermined order.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising signal processing means for processing a signal read out from said first accumulation means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for controlling a gain of said signal processing means according to the signal output by said first output means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first accumulation means includes a capacitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising second accumulation means for accumulating an output of the second emitter of said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising readout means for reading out said outputs accumulated in said first accumulation means in a predetermined order.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said readout means further reads out the output accumulated in said second accumulation means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first and second accumulation means include capacitors, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first output means includes a differential amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first output means is formed by commonly connecting the second emitter of said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from light to the commonly connected first emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling an interval of accumulating charge in the base of a photoelectric conversion element which is irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising exposure control means for limiting an amount of light incident upon said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for controlling the amount of the incident light provided by said exposure control means, in response to the signal output by said first output means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
A photoelectric conversion device comprising: (a) a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by incident light, and at least one photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from the incident light, each of said photoelectric conversion elements comprising a transistor including a base, a collector and first and second emitters; and (b) first output means for commonly connecting first emitter of (a) said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light and (b) said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from the incident light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A photoelectric conversion device comprising: (a) a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by incident light, and at least one photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from the incident light, each of said photoelectric conversion elements comprising a transistor including a base, a collector and first and second emitters; and (b) first output means for commonly connecting first emitter of (a) said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light and (b) said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from the incident light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 16, further comprising first accumulation means for respectively accumulating outputs of the second emitters of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 17, further comprising readout means for reading out the outputs accumulated in said first accumulation means in a predetermined order.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 18, further comprising signal processing means for processing a signal read out from said first accumulation means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 19, further comprising means for controlling a gain of said signal processing means according to an output of said first output means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 17, wherein said first accumulation means includes a capacitor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 17, further comprising second accumulation means for accumulating an output of the second emitter of said photoelectric conversion element which is shielded from light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 22, further comprising readout means for reading out the outputs accumulated in said first accumulation means in a predetermined order.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said readout means further reads out the output accumulated in said second accumulation means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said first and second accumulation means include capacitors, respectively.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 16, further comprising control means for controlling, in response to an output of said first output means, an interval of accumulating charge in the base of the photoelectric conversion element which is irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 16, further comprising exposure control means for limiting an amount of light incident upon said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are irradiated by the incident light.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 27, further comprising means for controlling the amount of the incident light provided by said exposure control means, in response to an output of said first output means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-19 | 1994-05-21 | 1994-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-19 | 1998-05-21 | 1998-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-19 | 2002-05-21 | 2002-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |