Abstract: An image sensing system includes a solid-state image sensor having at least two horizontal shift registers for providing monochromatic multichannel signals, and a signal processing circuit for combining the signals into a monochromatic composite signal. The signal processing circuit includes a first combining circuit for producing a first output signal by selecting one of the multichannel signals alternately at regular intervals, a second combining circuit for adding together the multichannel signals to produce a second, and a third combining circuit for producing a composite signal by output signal combining the first and second signals through selection or addition. Thus, this system can produce the composite signal in either of two different combining modes, one of which is superior in frequency characteristic and the other of which can provide high S/N signals.

Abstract: A resettable clamp-sample-and-hold (RC-S/H) circuit includes a preamplifier 12 which buffers and scales a video imaging signal for an RC filter 17. Charge accumulated on the capacitor 16 of the RC filter 17 from previously recovered pixel voltage levels may be removed through a reset switch 18. The scaled video imaging signal may then propagate through a filter buffer 20, a clamp buffer 26 and a sample/hold buffer without the adverse effect of sequential pixel crosstalk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing bloom in an 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 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge coupled device CCD X-ray imager for reducing split events during integration. The imager includes a semiconductor material having a photosensitive region for receiving X-ray radiation energy and for generating electrical charges corresponding to the received X-ray radiation, and having a plurality of permanent barriers formed therein to divide the semiconductor material into a plurality of columns. Barrier electrodes are coupled to the semiconductor material for establishing in said semiconductor material a plurality of temporary barriers having a sufficient potential gradient to substantially reduce the occurrence of split events. Collection site electrodes are coupled to the semiconductor material for effecting the collection of the generated electrical charges. The temporary barriers are erected in the columns to form an array of potential wells.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a high resolution image from an image sensor having a plurality of pixels with a preselected pitch with means for dithering the image sensor. The movement of the image sensor causes the pixels to map a new area of an image without overlap of a previously mapped area. The present invention provides a simple, economic, and reliable mechanism using cascaded levers for dithering the sensor or the input image.

Abstract: A charge transfer device includes a first input stage converting a first input signal into first signal charge, a first shift register transferring the first signal charge with a first delay amount, a second input stage converting a second input signal into second signal charge and having a first switch for selectively inputting the second signal charge to a second shift register, a third input stage converting a third input signal into third signal charge and having a second switch for selectively inputting the third signal charge to a third shift register, and an adding section for selectively adding one of the second and third signal charge to the first signal charge. The second shift register transfers the second signal charge with a second delay amount and the third shift register transfers the third signal charge with a third delay amount.

Abstract: An image pick up apparatus according to this invention comprises an imaging device for outputting video signals by driving a solid-state imaging element on the basis of a plurality of driving pulses, a noise synthesizer for synthesizing noise components contained in the plurality of driving pulses, and a subtracter for subtracting output signals of the noise synthesizer from the video signals. Signals synthesized with the noise components contained in the driving pulses for driving the solid-state imaging element are subtracted from the video signals transmitted from the imaging device, thereby removing the noise components of the video signals.

Abstract: A charge coupled device imager has an imaging section comprising a plurality of photoelectric converting sections and a plurality of horizontal charge transfer sections arranged in a matrix configuration divided into two sections. Each of the photoelectric converting sections is surrounded with a channel stop region for isolating each other and a readout gate region. Signal charges in the imaging section are transferred by the horizontal charge transfer sections in opposite horizontal directions according to the raster scanning direction of television signal, so that the horizontal charge transfer sections in an unit cell are not elongated in the vertical direction and transfer frequency is lowered. As a result of the horizontal transfer in the imaging section, the photoelectric converting sections can be arrayed with high density in horizontal direction to achieve high horizontal resolution.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a visual image stored in a multi-output CCD image sensor for CCD image analysis which has a plurality of analog shift registers. Analog multiplexers are used to eliminate the need for a frame store.