Patent US5539196A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5539196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photo-electric conversion apparatus with gain controllable amplifiers
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-28
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Granted: 1996-07-23
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Expires: 2015-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A photo-electric conversion apparatus having a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements is provided with an amplifier which can externally control a gain thereof, at an output terminal of each of the photo-electric conversion elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Mamoru Miyawaki
- 👤 Isamu Ueno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/70; H04N25/701; H04N25/76; H04N25/766; H04N25/77; H04N25/771; H04N25/778; H04N25/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements; b) a plurality of read channels for separately reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided one for each channel, and d) control signal generating means for generating signals for changing gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements; b) a plurality of read channels for separately reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided one for each channel, and d) control signal generating means for generating signals for changing gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising storage means for storing output signals of the photo-electric conversion elements through the amplifiers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said storage means includes capacitors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising read means for serially reading the signals of said storage means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said read means is controlled by said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said gain controllable amplifiers includes a transistor having a plurality of floating gate electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising operating means for operating a plurality of output signals gain-controlled by said gain controllable amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements each having a transistor; b) a plurality of read channels for reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided one for each channel; d) control means for controlling gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal; and e) operating means for performing a predetermined operation on outputs read out through said read channels to execute a predetermined calculation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements each having a transistor; b) a plurality of read channels for reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided one for each channel; d) control means for controlling gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal; and e) operating means for performing a predetermined operation on outputs read out through said read channels to execute a predetermined calculation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transistor comprises a bipolar transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transistor comprises a MOS transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said operating means includes a capacitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said operating means includes a subtractor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns; b) a plurality of read channels for reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided one for each channel; d) control means for controlling gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal; and e) operating means for performing a predetermined operation on outputs read out through said read channels to execute a predetermined calculation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns; b) a plurality of read channels for reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided one for each channel; d) control means for controlling gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal; and e) operating means for performing a predetermined operation on outputs read out through said read channels to execute a predetermined calculation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said photo-electric conversion elements includes a transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transistor comprises a bipolar transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transistor comprises a MOS transistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said operating means includes a capacitor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said operating means includes a subtractor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a predetermined number of photo-electric conversion elements in a row direction; b) a predetermined number of read channels for reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided for each read channel; and d) control means for controlling gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising: a) a predetermined number of photo-electric conversion elements in a row direction; b) a predetermined number of read channels for reading outputs of said photo-electric conversion elements; c) a plurality of gain controllable amplifiers provided for each read channel; and d) control means for controlling gains of said amplifiers in response to a predetermined instruction signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said photo-electric conversion elements each include a transistor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the transistor comprises a bipolar transistor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the transistor comprises a transistor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising operating means for performing a predetermined operation on outputs read out through said read channels to execute a predetermined calculation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said operating means includes a capacitor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said operating means includes a subtractor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said photo-electric conversion elements are also arranged in a column direction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means generates a control signal for controlling gains of said amplifiers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means generates a control signal for controlling gains of said amplifiers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control means generates a control signal for controlling gains of said amplifiers.
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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) | 1999-07-23 | 2000-01-22 | 2000-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-23 | 2004-01-22 | 2004-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-23 | 2008-01-22 | 2008-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |