Patent US6515703B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6515703B1
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Solid-state image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a charge transfer device including transfer cells greater in number than the photoelectric conversion cells
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1998-02-02
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Granted: 2003-02-04
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Expires: 2018-02-02
Abstract
Abstract An image pick-up device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells, and a charge transfer device including charge transfer cells wherein the number of the charge transfer cells is greater than the number of the photoelectric conversion cells. The image pick-up device also includes a controller which controls the operation of transferring signal charges from the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer device according to a procedure including, forming a plurality of potential wells by a plurality of charge transfer cells, and transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to a potential well formed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Suzuki
- 👤 Kenichi Kondo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/50; H04N25/57; H04N25/59; H04N25/60; H04N25/62; H04N25/621
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, said apparatus further comprising a selector for selecting either a field reading mode or full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein, when said field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image and reads out the results of the image, wherein, when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when either of said field or full frame reading mode is selected, the potential of a substrate, the level of a transfer pulse, and the width of the transfer pulse in said apparatus changes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, said apparatus further comprising a selector for selecting either a field reading mode or full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein, when said field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image and reads out the results of the image, wherein, when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when either of said field or full frame reading mode is selected, the potential of a substrate, the level of a transfer pulse, and the width of the transfer pulse in said apparatus changes.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
249 words
A method of driving an image sensing device, the image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a plurality of charge transfer cells, wherein the number of charge transfer cells is greater than the number of photoelectric conversion cells, the method including the steps of transferring a signal charge from each of the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately after the preceding transferring step, a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each potential well, said method further comprising a step of selecting either a field reading mode or full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein, when the field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image, and reads out the results of the image, wherein, when the full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of the image, and wherein, when either of said field or full frame reading mode is selected, the potential of a substrate, the level of a transfer pulse, and the width of the transfer pulse in said apparatus changes.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
249 words
A method of driving an image sensing device, the image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a plurality of charge transfer cells, wherein the number of charge transfer cells is greater than the number of photoelectric conversion cells, the method including the steps of transferring a signal charge from each of the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately after the preceding transferring step, a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each potential well, said method further comprising a step of selecting either a field reading mode or full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein, when the field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image, and reads out the results of the image, wherein, when the full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of the image, and wherein, when either of said field or full frame reading mode is selected, the potential of a substrate, the level of a transfer pulse, and the width of the transfer pulse in said apparatus changes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
190 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a field reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image and reads out the results of the image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the field reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a field reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image and reads out the results of the image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the field reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of driving an image sensing device, the image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a plurality of charge transfer cells, wherein the number of charge transfer cells is greater than the number of photoelectric conversion cells, the method including the steps of transferring a signal charge from each of the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately after the preceding transferring step, a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each potential well, and further comprising a step of selecting a field reading mode of the apparatus, the field reading mode having a transfer register to add odd and even numbered lines of an image, and reading out the results of the image, wherein, when the mode selector is in the field reading mode, the method includes a step of changing the potential of a substrate in the apparatus.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of driving an image sensing device, the image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a plurality of charge transfer cells, wherein the number of charge transfer cells is greater than the number of photoelectric conversion cells, the method including the steps of transferring a signal charge from each of the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately after the preceding transferring step, a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each potential well, and further comprising a step of selecting a field reading mode of the apparatus, the field reading mode having a transfer register to add odd and even numbered lines of an image, and reading out the results of the image, wherein, when the mode selector is in the field reading mode, the method includes a step of changing the potential of a substrate in the apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
186 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of driving an image sensing device, the image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a plurality of charge transfer cells, wherein the number of charge transfer cells is greater than the number of photoelectric conversion cells, the method including the steps of transferring a signal charge from each of the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately after the preceding transferring step, a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each potential well, further comprising a step of selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, the full frame reading mode having a transfer register to read separately odd and even numbered lines of the image, wherein, when the mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the method includes a step of changing the potential of a substrate in the apparatus.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of driving an image sensing device, the image sensing device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells and a plurality of charge transfer cells, wherein the number of charge transfer cells is greater than the number of photoelectric conversion cells, the method including the steps of transferring a signal charge from each of the photoelectric conversion cells to the charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying immediately after the preceding transferring step, a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each potential well, further comprising a step of selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, the full frame reading mode having a transfer register to read separately odd and even numbered lines of the image, wherein, when the mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the method includes a step of changing the potential of a substrate in the apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a field reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image and reads out the results of the image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the field reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a field reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said field reading mode is selected, a transfer register adds odd and even numbered lines of an image and reads out the results of the image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the field reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
185 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
185 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a potential well in a charge transfer cell disposed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to the potential well formed at the position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell; and applying a predetermined voltage to a transfer cell adjacent to each potential well, therein increasing the capacity of each said potential well, and further comprising a selector for selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
157 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a plurality of potential wells by a plurality of said charge transfer cells; and transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to a potential well formed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell, further comprising a selector for selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
157 words
An image pick-up apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells; charge transfer cells, wherein the number of said charge transfer cells is greater than the number of said photoelectric conversion cells; and a controller for controlling the operation of transferring signal charges from said photoelectric conversion cells to said charge transfer cells according to a procedure including the steps of: forming a plurality of potential wells by a plurality of said charge transfer cells; and transferring a signal charge from each photoelectric conversion cell to a potential well formed at a position corresponding to each photoelectric conversion cell, further comprising a selector for selecting a full frame reading mode of the apparatus, wherein when said full frame reading mode is selected, a transfer register reads separately odd and even numbered lines of an image, and wherein, when said mode selector is in the full frame reading mode, the potential of a substrate in said apparatus changes.
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