Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an optical lens system and a color image sensing device. The optical lens system forms an image on the color image sensing device by means of light from an illuminated subject. The color image sensing device is a charge coupled device which has a plurality of pixels. The apparatus fulfills the conditions: 1.5×p×FNo.<|LBg−LBe|<5.0×p×FNo. 1.5×p×FNo.<|LBc−LBe|<5.0×p×FNo. where p is a predetermined pitch of a photoelectrically converted pixel of said color image sensing device, LBe is a paraxial back Ad focal length of an e-line (546.07 nm in wavelength), LBg is a paraxial back focal length of a g-line (435.84 nm in wavelength), LBc is a paraxial back focal length of a C-line (656.28 nm in wavelength), and FNo. is an F-number of said optical lens.

Abstract: A processing system for a charge coupled device (CCD) or CMOS imaging system includes a multi-mode, multiple current level, correlated double sample and variable gain (CDS/VGA) circuit for receiving data from a CCD system, subject to horizontal and vertical timing signals for the system which are locally generated by the processing system itself. The processing system particularly includes programmable timing circuitry for controlling the detection of pixel intensity values from elements of a two-dimensional pixel array, with a programable low-frequency master vertical timing circuit driving a high-frequency horizontal timing circuit, wherein the vertical and horizontal timing signals are independently locally provided to the array from the analog processor actually sampling the array. The architecture of the processing system further includes a correlated double sampler, a black level clamp, and an A/D conversion module.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, when a color component (e.g. red, green or blue) is reconstructed at a pixel from the intensity values for this component at adjacent pixels, the intensities at the adjacent pixels are assigned weights. Greater weights are assigned to those pixels for which a gradient is smaller. The gradient for each adjacent pixel is indicative of a magnitude of a change of another color component in the direction of the adjacent pixel and/or a magnitude of the rate of change of the other color component in the direction of the adjacent pixel. In some embodiments, the weights are chosen to reduce the impact of noise. In some embodiments, the reconstructed value of a color component is adjusted to incorporate information on color spikes that is carried by another color component.

Abstract: In an automatic exposure control apparatus, image-capturing is performed at a double exposure time TI (I=1, 2, . . . ) and a single exposure time; a CCD output therein produced is applied with a CCD drive signal to perform an integrating operation for a signal in an AE area by using an integration circuit, and then outputs integration values 2EI+SI and EI′+SI′ to an exposure operation/control circuit; and the exposure operation/control circuit then performs an AE operation to receive 2EI+SI−(EI′+SI′)≈EI and compares the value to a target value for determining exposure conditions, and upon receipt of a shutter trigger, it uses an AE operation value containing almost no smear component to determine an appropriate exposure condition even in actual image-recording. According to the apparatus herein stated, exposure errors resulting from smears can be prevented.

Abstract: A correction circuit 50 is provided to correct the luminance shading caused by uneven thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the LCD panel. The correction circuit 50 generates a correction signal obtained by modulating the gradually changing signal with smaller amplitude at positions closer to the center in the horizontal direction of the LCD panel and with smaller amplitude at positions closer to the center in the vertical direction when the signal is seen vertically. The signal in the lowfrequency range components of the video signal is used for such modulation. After addind the correction signal from the correction circuit 50 to the video signal by the adder 51, the signal is processed for AC driving and then supplied to the LCD panel section 10. By thus superimposing the correction signal on the video signal for the LCD panel, the luminance shading can be corrected.

Abstract: An analog signal processing apparatus for a digital camera includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit adjusting a direct current (DC) level signal from a charge coupled device (CCD) by using a black level as a reference and converting the DC level signal into a typical video signal, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit automatically adjusting the gain of an output signal of the CDS circuit, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter converting the analog signal from the AGC circuit into a digital image signal, a black level clamp circuit clamping the black level of the digital image signal from the A/D converter for a predetermined time interval and feeding back the clamped black level to the CDS circuit, and a clock generator generating first and second clock signals and a black level clamping signal so as to control the timing of the black level clamp circuit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for correction on mounting shifts among sensor chips in a contact image sensor. The apparatus has plural sensor chips each having plural pixels, arrayed in a main scanning direction, and a correction device which performs correction on a shift in the main scanning direction and/or a subscanning direction between adjacent sensor chips in a signal outputted from the plural sensor chips. The correction device performs different processing in a first sensor chip interval and a second sensor chip interval.

Abstract: In a one-dimensional or two-dimensional photoelectric converting apparatus for simultaneously executing an accumulation of a photosignal and an output of a signal, in order to remove a reset noise of a sensor unit and to reduce a random noise, the apparatus has a photosensor, a resetting circuit of the photosensor, noise signal holding elements for holding a noise signal when a resetting operation of the photosensor is executed, and a noise signal removing circuit for removing a noise from the signal accumulated in the photosensor after completion of the same resetting operation by using the noise signal held.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus that improves the S/N ratio of a low frequency component without causing losses to the data of a high frequency component. Low frequency image data representing the low frequency component of a sample is obtained by a CCD imaging means by use of a binning mode, and high frequency image data representing the high frequency component of a sample is obtained by the CCD imaging means without the use of a binning process. The low frequency image data and the high frequency image data are combined to form a synthesized image representing the sample.

Abstract: A method for processing a charge couple device (CCD) image is provided comprising the steps of obtaining charge packets in response to light, processing the charge packets into an analog signal, converting the analog signal to a digital signal, and filtering the digital signal with a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided for still and video imaging systems which use a low number of samples per image pixel, preferably a single color component per each image pixel. The device includes an edge-dependent and edge-side-dependent color interpolation process, preferably implemented within the imaging system or within a host image processing computer hardware. The process reconstructs the missing color components of each said image pixel with high accuracy, because it is based on the detection of the spatial features present in the pixel neighborhood, thus providing sharp images without artifacts and with smooth transition in hue from pixel to pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a solid state image sensor are disclosed. The method and apparatus operate such that the amount of information charges remaining in channel regions at the time of transferring the information charge packets from the channel regions is significantly reduced. The solid state image sensor being driven has a semiconductor substrate, at least one layer of which is located over the semiconductor substrate and where channel regions are formed, and gate electrodes are formed over the semiconductor substrate to respectively cover the channel regions. Drain regions are also defined in the semiconductor substrate respectively adjacent to the channel regions in either a lateral direction or a vertical direction. Each channel region is capable of storing information charges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to determine geometric distortion of an electronic imaging system, and an apparatus is provided to correct geometric distortion of the electronic imaging system and generate geometric distortion-corrected images. The novel geometric distortion measurement system comprises a light source, a collimator, a two dimensional steering device including a driver, and a control device for automatic sampling of the geometric distortion mapping of the electronic imaging system, and writes the results of distortion sampling into an associative memory. The sampling comprises multiple examples of the geometric distortion mapping across the image plane. Each example includes an ideal position of image pixel and its actual registration on the image plane. The measuring device take one example at a time until the whole sample is accomplished.

Abstract: A method for measuring the temperature of a scene using a detector having at least one reference pixel, with an integratable sampling circuit associated with each pixel. Initially, an ambient reference temperature is observed with the reference pixel(s) to provide a parameter, generally voltage, indicative of that temperature to provide a constant voltage output indicating that temperature by varying the sampling circuit integration time. Each non-reference pixel is exposed to different scene and ambient temperatures and the integration time for each set of data for each pixel is recorded. For each pixel, an equation is provided relating integration time to pixel voltage when the ambient temperature and the scene temperature are the same to correct for offsets and an equation is provided relating integration time and offset corrected pixel value to the difference between the ambient temperature and the scene temperature when the ambient temperature and scene temperature differ for correction of responsivity.

Abstract: A circuit technique to reduce the input capacitance line of a charge integrator is described. This approach is particularly tailored for embedded read-out circuits in solid-state integrated sensors. An integrated charge amplifier described herein includes a generic amplifier element and a high speed buffer which drives a metal shield placed underneath the input line. The metal shield therefore follows the potential of the input line and thereby reduces the capacitance between the input line and ground.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compensating the gray-scale values of an image scanned by a contact image sensor. The gray-scale compensating apparatus includes: a power supply for providing a fixed level of voltage source, a contact image sensor for scanning an image and outputting image voltages VIMG of pixels of the image, or scanning a white pixel and outputting the white-level voltage VP of the white pixel, an analog/digital converter, to receive the fixed voltage from the power supply and the image voltage VIMG or the white-level voltage VP, a microprocessor to calculate the average of n white-level values G(x, y), where n is an integer, and the average value G′(x)=(G(x, 0)+G(x, 1)+ . . . +G(x, n−1))/n. The microprocessor also determines the gray-scale values g′(x, y) of the image being compensated by calculating the gray-scale values g(x, y) of the image not compensated in accordance with the value of G′(x).

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a monolithic complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit in an industry standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor process, the integrated circuit including a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photogate overlying the substrate for accumulating photo-generated charge in an underlying portion of the substrate and a charge coupled device section formed on the substrate adjacent the photogate having a sensing node and at least one charge coupled device stage for transferring charge from the underlying portion of the substrate to the sensing node. There is also a readout circuit, part of which can be disposed at the bottom of each column of cells and be common to all the cells in the column. A Simple Floating Gate (SFG) pixel structure could also be employed in the imager to provide a non-destructive readout and smaller pixel sizes.

Abstract: An analog voltage signal corresponding to a light intensity received by a photosensitive pixel is sampled. At the time when thus sampled analog voltage signal is inputted into a clamping circuit, a comparative voltage signal changing over time is coupled therewith by means of capacitive coupling. In a comparator circuit, the voltage level of the output signal from the clamping circuit is compared with the reference voltage level, while being changed. Then, the counter digital signal at the moment when the comparison result signal changes is latched in a holding circuit. Thus, imaging is executed accurately at a high speed.

Abstract: A dark shading correction circuit, used for a television camera or a video camera, is provided for canceling a dark shading signal component contained in a video signal outputted from an image pickup device (6), thereby effecting the dark shading correction on the video signal. In synchronization with a vertical synchronizing signal, the image pickup device (6) outputs a video signal containing an optical black reference signal outputted in response to each horizontal scanning signal, while a timing signal generator (10) generates at least two timing signals for detecting the optical black reference signal in the video signal. On the other hand, detection means (7a, 7b) detect at least two optical black reference signals contained in the video signal based on the at least two timing signals.

Abstract: An integrated circuit active pixel image sensor comprises an array of active pixels having associated therewith one capacitor in each pixel column for storing a combined pixel output signal comprising an image signal and a fixed offset signal and another capacitor in each column for capturing another signal produced when the pixel is reset. The array may be read row-by-row. Each column includes a comparator and a data latch via which a digitized fixed offset corrected pixel output signal is obtained using a ramp voltage source and a digital count broadcaster provided in the sensor.

Abstract: An L-C low pass filter correlator circuit for removing noise from an image signal produced by a solid state imaging device such as a CCD sensor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus constructed in a manner such that an image signal is inputted, the inputted image signal is clamped to a predetermined reference voltage in a clamp circuit, an optical black level of the clamped image signal is detected by a detection circuit, the detected optical black level and a predetermined black level are compared and a correction amount is calculated in an operation circuit, and the optical black level is corrected by operating the correction amount obtained by the operation circuit for the clamped image signal in a correction circuit.

Abstract: A defect compensator for a solid-state image pickup device includes a vertical charge coupled device (VCCD) region for transferring signal charges produced by a plurality of optical detectors which detects an image signal of incident light, in the vertical direction, a buffer for storing a pixel data in the VCCD region by means of a plurality of scanning lines unit sequentially, a defect detecting and compensating part having a plurality of matrix shaped sub-windows which calculate sum value of peripheral pixels except a central pixel upon receipt of the pixel data of the buffer, a plurality of sum-windows which divide sum value calculated by the corresponding sub-windows into a plurality of blocks to calculate their average value, a defect determining part which determines the presence of the defect upon comparing the average value with the central pixel value, and a compensation pixel value determining part which determines a defect compensation value upon comparing an arbitrary peripheral pixel value from

Abstract: The elimination of noise can be positively achieved by a simpler arrangement. For this reason, a capacitor holds a difference between a level at a first time point of an input signal and a reference potential of a given level. A capacitor holds a difference between a level at a second time point of the input signal and a threshold value of an inverter serving as a comparator. The first and second capacitors are switched to a series-connected state. With a combined voltage of holding voltages on the first and second capacitors as an input-side voltage to the inverter, a reference voltage Vref varies as a bias through the input-side voltage. When the output of the inverter is inverted during a portion of a time in which the reference voltage varies, a controller enables the holding of a measurement value corresponding to the reference voltage, the measurement value being used as a variation corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A method for reducing smear in video images generated by a frame transfer CCD imaging system having an array of charge coupled devices. The video images comprise successive image frames, each frame including an array of image pixels corresponding to the array of charge coupled devices. The pixel array has a plurality of rows and columns. Each frame is temporally separated from a next successive frame by an integration time interval during which light falling upon the array of charge coupled devices is integrated to produce integrated charge samples representative of image frame pixel values, and by a transfer interval during which the charge samples are transferred from an imaging area to a storage area.

Abstract: An imager with which it is possible to reduce the aliasing noise effectively. An imaging light from an object is condensed by an optical system 1 so as to fall on an optical low-pass filter 2. The optical low-pass filter 2 has trap points corresponding to zero values of the MTF characteristics on two points of 1/2 and 1 of the spatial sampling frequency on horizontal and vertical MTF characteristics, and reduces components less than one-half the spatial sampling frequency as determined by the arraying of the light receiving elements of a CCD 4 of the imaging light. The CCD 4 receives the imaging light, the spatial frequency of which has been suppressed by the spatial low-pass filter 2, and outputs an imaging light.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device compensates for reset noise by integrated correlated double sampling to determine a difference between reference signal obtained in a feed through period and a video signal obtained in a video signal time period. The device reduces the effect of high-frequency noise through integration. The problem of small CCD output affecting the linearity of integration is compensated by an integration coefficient control device that controls an integration coefficient of an integrating circuit. The integration coefficient control device performs this control in dependence on an applied control signal. Under low light conditions, a control signal applied to the integration coefficent control device changes the integration coefficent so that an integrated value of the integrating circuit is enlarged. The enlarged integrated value of the integrating circuit provides improved linearity an makes the appartus less susceptible to noise from other circuits.

Abstract: A processor is provided for transforming N.times.N discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients F.sub.uv inputted from a run-length-code 5 (RLC) decoder and arranged in an input order into an image data f.sub.jk in an integrated circuit through a 2-D inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) procedure wherein subscripts u and v of DCT coefficients F.sub.uv are input frequency indices respectively having least significant bits (LSB) u.sub.0 and v.sub.0 having an exclusive-OR (XOR) and subscripts j and k of image data f.sub.jk are spatial indices generated by the integrated circuit, which comprises a cosine pre-multiplier array for computing cosine-weighted DCT coefficients, a principal subkernel mapper utilizing the cosine-weighted DCT coefficients by first referring to the indices u and v for forming a principal N/2.times.N/2 subkernel-weighted matrix F.sub.uv C.sub.1.sup.uv, an N.times.N accumulating matrix operating with the principal N/2.times.N/2 subkernel-weighted matrix F.sub.uv C.sub.1.sup.

Abstract: There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus which has realized sharing of signal charges without generation of a fault of image like a vertical stripe resulting from defective sharing of signal charges in a horizontal transfer register consisting of a pair of transfer sections for horizontal transfer by sharing therewith the signal charges of the same pixel. In this solid state imaging apparatus, a pair of horizontal transfer registers 4 (6) are provided to execute horizontal transfer by sharing the signal charges of the same pixel in the first horizontal transfer register 4 in the side of the image section with a pair of transfer sections 4a, 4b with the control gate section 5. For the sharing of signal charges, a transfer channel 17 is formed in the transfer gate section 5 between the bit (.phi.H2) of the transfer section 4a and the bit (.phi.H1) one bit after, in the horizontal transfer direction, the bit (.phi.

Abstract: A defective pixel correction circuit corrects a defective pixel in a solid imaging device such as a CCD exactly and sufficiently. A boundary detection circuit calculates magnitudes of boundaries from signals of eight peripheral pixels taken in a pixel taking-in circuit and a boundary ordering circuit compares the calculated magnitudes of the boundaries with one another to order the magnitudes of the boundaries. An interpolation circuit produces an interpolation signal in accordance with an interpolation method determined by an interpolation method determining circuit on the basis of the order of the ordered boundaries to correct the defective pixel.

Abstract: A photoelectric converter output processing system includes a photoelectric converter for converting light signals into electric output signals, a voltage storage device capable of storing a reference voltage, a voltage supply device that supplies a preset voltage, a control device that selectively couples the voltage supply device to the voltage storage device so that the voltage storage device is charged to the reference voltage when the photoelectric converter is generating one of the electric output signals and a reset reference signal, and an amplifier coupled to the photoelectric converter and the voltage storage device. The amplifier amplifies the photoelectric converter electric output signals based on the reference voltage stored in the voltage storage device. Thus, reliable CCD output amplification is achieved, starting with the first effective CCD sensor output cycle.

Abstract: In order to stabilize the reference level of an output signal from a solid-state image pick-up device, the solid-state image pick-up device includes an output circuit 12 for obtaining a picture signal Y1(t) from information charges outputted from a horizontal shift register 11, an impedance conversion circuit 13 for reducing the output impedance of the picture signal Y1(t) and a clamp circuit 14 for fixing the reference level in the picture signal Y1(t), all of which are integrated on the same semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An output circuit of a solid-state imaging device has been improved. The output circuit receives a plurality of pixel signals in a dummy bit portion, an optical black portion and an effective pixel portion from a charge transfer device of the solid-state imaging device.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention is directed to providing methods and apparatus for detecting light energy in real-time while minimizing the effects of background charge accrual on the charge-coupled device. Exemplary embodiments provide relatively fast electronic shuttering and exposure control to minimize accrual of unwanted background illumination. Further, exemplary embodiments can be operated at relatively high speeds without increasing the complexity of electronics used to drive the charge-coupled device or process information produced by the charge-coupled device.

Abstract: A CCD for detecting images includes a substrate, a well region formed on the semiconductor substrate, a horizontal CCD (HCCD) formed in the well region, a photodiode region formed in the well region at a prescribed spacing from the HCCD, a channel stop layer, an impurity diffusion layer which serves as a potential barrier region around the side and lower portions of the photodiode region so as to completely separate the photodiode region from the well region, a gate insulating layer formed on the substrate, a polygate formed on the gate insulating layer above the HCCD, an insulating layer formed on portions of the gate insulating layer, and a metal shielding layer formed on the insulating layer, whereby a smear phenomenum is prevented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing bloom in output of a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor is disclosed. The method includes the step of toggling at least two phases of said CCD after exposure of said CCD. The method and apparatus are particularly useful when a flash of light occurs during the exposure.

Abstract: An Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transformation is widely used for orthogonally transforming image data. The number of adders necessary for sum-of-product operations in a matrix multiplication is reduced. A high speed matrix multiplication and a progressive image build-up are realized by minimizing the number of operations by skipping those for insignificant data. This invention speeds up the operations for restoring image data, minimizes the necessary circuit size, and enables a progressive image build-up to be performed efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a compensation method for a series of synthesized image signals generated by a double-side readout type of CCD which includes the steps of: a) comparing the first two of the series of synthesized image signals with a reference signal to obtain a first and a second compensating signals, respectively; b) serially comparing each signal of the series of synthesized image signals with the reference signal to obtain a series of difference signals; and c) compensating the series of synthesized image signals according to the first and the second compensating signals and the difference signals, to make every two of the resulting series of synthesized image signals bearing consecutive ordinal numbers substantially equal to each other in potential level. The present invention also relates to a compensation apparatus for implementing the present compensation method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for accurately detecting light energy of a signal of interest (e.g., a laser pulse) even when the signal-to-noise ratio is relatively low. The present invention is further directed to accurate detection of a signal of interest even when either or both the signal of interest and background illumination vary across plural pixels of an imaging an array. For example, a signal of interest can be accurately detected even in the presence of pixel response non-uniformity and fixed pattern noise, or when the incident signal of interest is not confined laterally to a single pixel.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus comprises a charge coupled device, a plurality of photosensors, and a voltage generator. Each of the photosensors receives incident light, generates a voltage logarithmically proportional to an intensity of the incident light, and is connected to a first electrode of the charge coupled device. The voltage generator generates a reference voltage logarithmically proportional to an average intensity of the incident light on the photosensors and is connected to a second electrode of the charge coupled device. Signal charges are injected into the charge coupled device, depending on the voltage impressed on the first and second electrodes, so that a direct current component of an output of the charge coupled device is controlled.

Abstract: A CCD signal read-out circuit is operative, upon receipt of a CCD signal outputted from a CCD, to output an output signal from which a reset noise has been removed through correlated double sampling. The CCD signal includes pixel periods each comprising a reset period, a succeeding feed-through period and a further succeeding pixel signal period.

Abstract: An image detection device, notably a semiconductor image detection array for detecting x-ray images, is provided wherein perturbations due to phantom-images are substantially mitigated. In such an image detection array incident image carrying radiation is converted into charges. Delayed charge transfer due to trapping of charges in the semiconductor material of radiation sensor elements causes such perturbations. In an image detection device according to the invention a correction circuit is provided which is arranged to form an image correction signal being representative of delayed transferred charges. In a particular embodiment of an image detection device according to the invention the image correction signal is formed as a superposition of exponentially decaying signals of images which were detected before the detection of a currently detected image.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for correcting for changes in the charge transfer efficiency of a charge coupled device (12) includes a light source (38) for providing synthetic reference images to a preselected portion (26) of the image array (16) of the charge coupled device (12). The initial synthetic reference image is compared with subsequent synthetic references images to determine the changes in the charge transfer efficiency of the charge coupled device (12). The changes are used to correct images form the image array (16).

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a solid state sensor and a noise suppression circuit for suppressing noise in a video output signal generated by the image sensor.

Abstract: An image sensing device is provided with an image sensor having one or more radiation-sensitive elements which convert incident radiation into collected charges. A read-out circuit converts the collected charges into pixel signals which contain a hold level and an image level, the hold level providing a comparison voltage and the image level being representative of a charge quantity. The hold level is formed by coupling the read-out circuit temporarily to a comparison voltage; this coupling is done by closing a transistor which adds thermal noise to the pixel signal. The image sensing device comprises a signal processing circuit which comprises a clamp circuit which makes hold-levels of different pixel signals substantially equal. The image level of each pixel signal is offset by the same amount as its hold level. An electronic image signal is formed as a result of integration of the image level in respect of the clamped hold level.

Abstract: A ground driven delay line correlator circuit for removing noise from an image signal produced by a solid state imaging device such as a CCD sensor. The delay line is made up of a shielded inductor having a certain impedance and delay period.

Abstract: A frame interline transfer CCD imager is so adapted that signal charges from the photosensor are read into a vertical transfer unit and are transferred at a high transfer rate from the vertical transfer unit to a storage section. The charges from each photosensor are drained during the high transfer rate transfer so that the photosensors are unable to store the signal charges to prevent the occurrence of blooming.

Abstract: A noise suppression, signal recovery circuit for use with an array of charge coupled device having a plurality of phase readouts. The video information present in the multiple phases are combined into a single video output signal by using a minimal number of parts while providing for noise suppression designed to suppress typical noise present in charge coupled device arrays.

Abstract: A web inspection system that inspects a moving web for defects has an enhanced video signal preprocessing capability. The enhanced video signal preprocessing is provided by a preprocessing circuit which has a maximum signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio that is no greater than an inherent maximum S/N ratio of a raw video signal as generated by a charge-coupled device CCD camera. The preprocessing circuit is preferably DC-coupled to the CCD camera to receive the raw video signal and generate an analog filtered video signal using an adaptive feedback loop that preserves a fidelity of the raw video signal in generating the filtered video signal. By improving the video signal preprocessing, the overall defect detection consistency of the web inspection system is improved.

Abstract: An image pick-up device driving apparatus including an image pick-up device having a light receiver which converts an image of an object to be taken to electrical signal charges to be accumulated, and a signal transfer device which transfers the accumulated signal charges, and a controller for controlling the image pick-up device to prevent unnecessary electrical charges accumulated by the light receiver from leaking into the signal transfer device before the electrical charges accumulated in the light receiver and transferred to the signal transfer device are read.