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US5083207A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image sensing device having direct drainage of unwanted charges

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-10-05
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2010-10-05
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Abstract

Abstract An image sensing device comprises a light receiving unit having light receiving elements for producing electric charges corresponding to intensity of light received by the light receiving elements; an accumulator for accumulating the electric charges produced by the light receiving unit; a transferring unit for transferring the accumulated electric charges in response to a predetermined transfer clock; a discharge unit for discharging electric charges received; a first gate between the accumulator and the transferring unit for controlling the transference of the accumulated electric charges to the transferring unit; a second gate between the transferring unit and the discharge unit for controlling the transference of the electric charges in the transferring unit to the discharge unit; a gate control for controlling the first and second gates to interrupt the transference of electric charges through the first and second gates for performing the accumulation of the accumulator, to permit the transference of accumulated electric charges to the transferring unit after the accumulation of the accumulator is terminated, and to permit the transference of electric signals through the first and second gates to the discharge unit prior to commencement of the accumulation for discharging unnecessary charges in the accumulating unit and the transferring unit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tokuji Ishida
  • 👤 Toshio Norita
  • 👤 Jun Hasegawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/62; H04N25/621; H04N25/622; H04N25/70; H04N25/701; H04N25/71

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
An image sensing system including a solid state image sensor, comprising: means for outputting a mode signal indicating an operating mode of said solid state image sensor and a timing signal indicating an operating timing of said solid state image sensor; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for sensing an image formed thereon to produce image data representative of the sensed image; means, provide in said solid state image sensor, for receiving said outputted mode signal and said outputted timing signal; means, provide in said solid state image sensor, for selecting one operating mode among a plurality of operating modes in accordance with the mode signal received; and means, provide in said solid state image sensor, for controlling said image sensing means in accordance with the selected operating mode and the timing signal received.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 136 words
An image sensing system including a solid state image sensor, comprising: means for outputting a mode signal indicating an operating mode of said solid state image sensor and a timing signal indicating an operating timing of said solid state image sensor; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for sensing an image formed thereon to produce image data representative of the sensed image; means, provide in said solid state image sensor, for receiving said outputted mode signal and said outputted timing signal; means, provide in said solid state image sensor, for selecting one operating mode among a plurality of operating modes in accordance with the mode signal received; and means, provide in said solid state image sensor, for controlling said image sensing means in accordance with the selected operating mode and the timing signal received.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 50 words
The image sensing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for connecting said outputting means with said receiving means so that said mode signal is transmitted through a first data line and said timing signal is transmitted through a second data line different from said first data line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The image sensing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second data line is bidirectional.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 78 words
The image sensing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving said timing signal transmitted through said second data line, and further comprising; means provided in said solid state image sensor, for sending gain data indicating gain of said image data through said second data line; and means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for switching the connecting of said second data line between said receiving means and said sending means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 116 words
An image sensing system including a solid state image sensor, comprising: means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for sensing an image formed thereon to produce an analog image signal representative of the sensed image; means for receiving said analog image signal; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for producing an A/D conversion start signal and an accumulation terminating signal through a common line; means for converting said analog image signal into corresponding digital image signal in response to the A/D conversion start signal received; means for receiving said accumulation terminating signal; and means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for switching said accumulation terminating signal to said A/D conversion start signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 116 words
An image sensing system including a solid state image sensor, comprising: means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for sensing an image formed thereon to produce an analog image signal representative of the sensed image; means for receiving said analog image signal; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for producing an A/D conversion start signal and an accumulation terminating signal through a common line; means for converting said analog image signal into corresponding digital image signal in response to the A/D conversion start signal received; means for receiving said accumulation terminating signal; and means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for switching said accumulation terminating signal to said A/D conversion start signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 137 words
An image sensing system including a solid state image sensor, comprising: means for outputting a mode signal indicating an operating mode of said solid state image sensor; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for sensing an image formed thereon to produce an analog image signal representative of the sensed image; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for receiving said outputted mode signal: means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for selecting one operating mode among a plurality of operating modes in accordance with the mode signal received, said plurality of operating modes including an accumulation mode relating to an accumulation operation of electric charges in said solid state image sensor; and means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for controlling said image sensing means in accordance with the selected operating mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 137 words
An image sensing system including a solid state image sensor, comprising: means for outputting a mode signal indicating an operating mode of said solid state image sensor; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for sensing an image formed thereon to produce an analog image signal representative of the sensed image; means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for receiving said outputted mode signal: means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for selecting one operating mode among a plurality of operating modes in accordance with the mode signal received, said plurality of operating modes including an accumulation mode relating to an accumulation operation of electric charges in said solid state image sensor; and means, provided in said solid state image sensor, for controlling said image sensing means in accordance with the selected operating mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 59 words
The image sensing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plurality of operating modes includes a discharge mode in which unnecessary charges stored in said solid state image sensor are discharged, an accumulation mode in which necessary charges are accumulated in said solid state image sensor, and a transferring mode relating to the transference of the accumulated charges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
The image sensing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transferring mode includes an A/D conversion mode in which the analog image signal in converted into a corresponding digital image signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1995-01-20 1995-07-22 1996-01-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-01-20 1999-07-22 2000-01-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-01-20 2003-07-22 2004-01-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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