Abstract: The present invention is directed to a charge coupled device in which, during the shifting interval, the charge storage pixels are biased with an electrical potential greater than the absolute value of the CCD inversion potential and, during the charge integration interval, the charge storage pixels are biased with an electrical potential that is less than the CCD inversion potential. In this manner, the present invention substantially reduces error attributable to impact ionization or dark current.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an image sensing device which can be operated in two different modes, namely a field mode and a frame mode, in a frame mode, a potential of a substrate of the image sensing device and an intermediate voltage of pulses to be applied to a vertical transfer unit are set to potentials which are lower than those in the field mode, first. Then, by changing the potential of the substrate and the intermediate voltage to the same potentials as in the field mode during reading out the first field of the image sensing device, a dynamic range which is as wide as that in the field mode and a charge transfer efficiency which is as well as that achieved in the field mode are realized.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a plurality of recording medium drive units includes a base member supporting a floppy disk drive and a DAT drive, an intermediate member supported on the base member and supporting two hard disk drives, and a top member supported on the intermediate member and supporting one or two hard disk drives.The recording medium drive unit support structure is mounted within a housing, within which are also housed a motherboard, a second printed circuit board and a third printed circuit board. The motherboard has mounted thereon a microprocessor for controlling storage of video data on at least one of the hard disks. The second printed circuit board has integrated circuits mounted thereon for receiving plural streams of video information and for selecting for storage fields of video information included in the streams of video information.

Abstract: It is known to adjust the width/height ratio (aspect ratio) in charge coupled imaging devices in that a number of columns may or may not be used on either side of the imaging matrix. It is possible in this manner, for example, to reduce the aspect ratio to 4/3 starting from a device with an aspect ratio of 16/9 corresponding to a widescreen TV. Practice has shown that this reduction in the width impairs the quality of the imaging device in the 4/3 mode. According to an aspect of the invention, an FT device with an aspect ratio of 4/3 is used and operated as a 4-phase CCD in the 4/3 mode. To obtain the 16/9 aspect ratio, the height of the device is reduced in that selected lines are not used. For this purpose, the sensor matrix is operated as a 3-phase CCD, whereby the number of lines in vertical direction is increased.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a charge coupled device which comprises charge transfer channels having a photoelectric conversion function and a charge transfer function of the present invention has the structure that the charge transfer channels comprise transfer electrodes formed and arranged on a channel layer for transferring signal charges along with a charge transfer direction and a barrier layer formed on a part of the channel layer region underneath the transfer electrodes, and further comprising a driver for applying the CCD, in a case of taking image, a pinning voltage to the all transfer electrodes, whereby signal charges generated by incident light are accumulated in potential wells equivalent to pixels generated in the channel layer region where the barrier layer is not formed, and in a case of transferring charges, for applying two-phase clock having a "L" level of a pinning voltage and a "H" level of a predetermined voltage higher than the pinning voltage is applied to the transfer electrodes

Abstract: An image sensor device capable of snap shot color applications comprising an array of image registers for converting the light from successive image frame exposures into indicative charge packets, and an array of light-shielded storage registers interspersed in regular displacements among the array of image registers for receiving the transfer of the charge packets from adjacent image registers over multiple image frame exposures, whereby, for example, red, green, and blue color image frames can be rapidly acquired upon the opening of a flash exposure shutter, and very rapidly transferred in parallel into the storage registers from which the three frames can be read out as a color image when the shutter is closed.

Abstract: A solid-state image pick-up device 20 having a photoreceiving section 3 disposed on the obverse surface of a substrate 2 and performing photoelectric conversion. A readout gate 5 is disposed at one end of the photoreceiving section 3. A channel stop 8 is disposed at the other end of the photoreceiving section 3. A vertical transfer register 7 is provided for each of the readout gate 5 and the channel stop 8 at the end opposite to the photoreceiving section 3. A transfer electrode 10 is located in a position substantially right above the vertical transfer register 7. A light-shielding film 21 is disposed in such a manner that the transfer electrode 10 can be covered and that the portion right above the photoreceiving section 3 can be at least partially opened. The width W.sub.3 of the readout gate 5 is formed greater than the width W.sub.4 of the channel stop 8. The width W.sub.5 of the projecting portion 21b of the light-shielding film 21 adjacent to the readout gate 5 is formed smaller than the width W.sub.

Abstract: A technique and structure is used for producing high resolution color images using a monochrome area charge-coupled device (CCD) 64 and a sequential color illumination scheme. The monochrome CCD 64 comprises a plurality of semiconductor storage cells 76, the semiconductor storage cells 76 being configured in an array having vertical columns 74 and horizontal rows 79. The entire CCD 64 is exposed to a first color image. The charge packets 82 stored in two adjacent horizontal rows as a result of the exposure are then shifted into a third horizontal row. The CCD 64 is then exposed to a second color image. The charge packets 82 stored in the first horizontal row as a result of the second exposure are then shifted into the second horizontal row. The CCD 64 is then exposed to a third and final color image. The CCD output is digitized and stored in a frame. The color information of a particular location on the CCD array 64 is derived by utilizing a simple set of equations.

Abstract: A control device includes a control mechanism for eliminating a dark current effect generated in a CCD. The control mechanism carries out a charge pumping operation in the CCD during a time after an object is photographed up until the time when an aperture is closed. The control mechanism obtains a dark current component generated when the aperture is closed after a photographing operation, based on a dark current component outputted by the CCD during a predetermined period, and then subtracts the dark current component from data outputted by the CCD in accordance with an image signal corresponding to the subject.

Abstract: A solid-state camera device of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of charge storage regions formed on the semiconductor substrate, a charge transfer region formed on the semiconductor substrate, for transferring charges read from the plurality of charge storage regions, a bias charge injection diode formed on the semiconductor substrate, for injecting a bias charge into the charge storage region, and sweeping out section for sweeping at least part of the charge remaining in the charge transfer region before resetting part of the bias charge injected into the charge storage region to emit part of the bias charge into the charge transfer region. That is, the present invention has a feature that the residual charge lying in the charge transfer region below the transfer gate specified for reading is swept before resetting the bias charge after injecting the bias charge into the charge storage region.

Abstract: The present invention teaches how to maintain temporally the increased collection region (depletion depth) of detectors within a solid-state image sensor. A novel clocking method is used to control charge transfer within charge coupled devices to reduce cross talk with a resulting improvement in the MTF and quantum efficiency. Specifically, the present invention employs a pulsing type of clocking technique wherein the duty cycle is adjusted to maximize the depletion region. These pulses are spaced equally from phase to phase within the multiphase clocking scheme. The present invention is specifically designed for high speed CCD devices in which improvements in the MTF and QE are desired. Time Delay Integration (TDI) image sensors are such devices that have high speed characteristics as a common requirement and the application of the present invention to these devices is discussed.

Abstract: A control circuit for a solid state image sensing device which is capable of reading out signal charges in a field storage system and frame storage system and is provided with an electronic shutter for controlling a signal charge storage time in accordance with a shutter pulse for discharging the charges. A time lag is provided between timings of readout gate pulses in each field period for pixels of odd and even rows in a field storage system. A storage time adjusting circuit is provided for correcting the time lag between the signal charge storage times for the pixels in the even and odd rows when the signal charges are read out in the frame storage system. Thus, it is possible to prevent generation of flicker causes by a change in signal charge storage time due to the time lag in each field period between the readout gate pulses for the even field and the odd field in reading out the signal charges in the frame storage system.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus which effects an electronic shutter operation comprises a solid-state imaging device made up of a plurality of photosensitive pixels arranged in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate, a driving circuit for driving the solid-state imaging device and also controlling the photoelectric conversion time of the photosensitive pixel, a vertical CCD for clipping a first signal obtained during a longer photoelectric conversion time in the solid-state imaging device, at a specified level or above, and then adding the clipped signal to a second signal obtained during a shorter photoelectric conversion time, and a signal processing circuit for amplifying and outputting the added signal, and setting an amplification degree for the second signal to a value larger than an amplification factor for the first signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprising a full frame transfer vertical shift register. Signal charges stored in two sections, originally stored in two vertically adjacent pixels, are consecutively transferred to a horizontal shift register while the horizontal shift register is inoperative so as to be mixed together therein. Alternatively, a storage register is provided between the bottom section of the vertical shift register and the horizontal shift register so as to accept signal charges stored in two sections and mix them therein before transferring them to the horizontal shift register. In either case, the mixed signal charges are output as data corresponding to a moving image display. A still image display is possible using the same device by changing the timing for driving the vertical shift register or the storage register.

Abstract: A 3-phase charge-coupled imaging device is operated in the interlace mode. During integration, voltages are applied to the clock electrodes such that charge is integrated below the same set of electrodes each time. The signal charges of the first field are formed in that 3/4 portion of the charge in each picture element is augmented by 1/4 portion of the charge of the preceding picture element, while the signal charges of the second field are formed in that the 3/4 portion is augmented by 1/4 portion of the charge generated in the following picture element. These summations may be carried out in the sensor itself in that the charge packages are shifted to the left and right during integration. The flicker which is usually the result of interlacing is very strongly reduced in this way.

Abstract: In an electronic still camera including an image pickup element having color filters which are changed at one-pixel periods in a vertical direction, and the memory outputs from the image pickup elements are temporarily stored in a memory and are read out again to obtain frame data.

Abstract: A CCD imager is used in a television camera which generates signals for use with a particular television standard, such as the proposed U.S. HDTV production standard. The imager includes a light-sensitive A register which generates signal in the form of charge during an integrating interval, a B charge storage register into which the charge is transferred during a pull-down interval, and a horizontal shift register coupled to the last row of the B register, into which the charges are simultaneously coupled, and serially read. The video signals produced by the imager are subject to distortion caused by incomplete charge transfer in the pull-down interval and crosstalk noise resulting from gating the clock signals to the horizontal shift register on and off. Vertical transfer distortion is reduced by reading the horizontal lines from the horizontal shift register with reduced intervals between the active portions, which allows the pull-down interval to be increased.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a two-dimensional array of photodetectors, a TG scanner outputting a selection pulse for reading out signal charges stored in the photodetectors, an interlace circuit receiving the selection pulse from said TG scanner and converting the selection pulse to a field storage mode operation pulse or to a frame storage mode operation pulse, and an interlace switching circuit receiving the pulse from said interlace circuit and switching the array of photodetectors between the field storage mode and the frame storage mode. The switching between the frame storage mode and the field storage mode is controlled by an external control signal. Therefore, the solid-state imaging device can select an optimum interlace system according to background conditions and the brightness and size of objects imaged.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus capable of changing a vertical resolution (MTF) without damaging the dynamic resolution. A CCD drive circuit 6 for driving a CCD image sensor 2 of an imaging section 3 is controlled by a control section 7 to independently vary effective charge storage periods of respective photoelectric conversion of the CCD image sensor 2 with respect to photoelectric conversion of odd columns and photoelectric conversion elements of even columns and to add and mix, every field, image pick-up charges obtained by respective adjacent photoelectric conversion elements of odd and even columns to read them out. A CCD drive circuit 6 for driving a CCD image sensor 2 of an imaging section 3 may also be controlled by a control section 7 to carry out control of the electronic shutter function of the CCD image sensor 2, and to control the effective charge storage periods of respective photoelectric conversion elements in a manner caused to interlock with the electronic shutter function.

Abstract: The imager includes a frame transfer image array 22 having a plurality of image cells, the image cells accumulating charge in response to input light and arranged in a plurality of image rows and image columns, odd numbered ones of the image rows constituting a first field and even numbered ones of the image rows constituting a second field; and a memory array 24 having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of memory rows and memory columns for storing charge from the image array 22, wherein, in a first mode, charge in the first field and the second field is transferred to the memory array 24 from the image array, and, in a second mode, charge in the first field is summed with charge in the second field in the image array 22 before being transferred to the memory array 24.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device for imaging an object moving at a high speed using a solid-state image sensor having an electronic shutter function. A modulated horizontal synchronizing signal, modulated so as to have a frequency higher than the frequency of the normal horizontal synchronizing signal depending on the designated shutter speed, is supplied from a modulated synchronizing signal generator to a timing generator. The timing generator counts a predetermined number of the modulated horizontal synchronizing signal pulses since the timing of a vertical synchronizing signal to output a readout pulse at a more prompt timing than when the normal horizontal synchronizing signal pulses are counted. The readout pulse controls the function of the electronic shutter of the solid-state imaging device. This enables the CCD image sensor to perform imaging by a high-speed shutter operation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for visual axis detection in which a frame transfer type CCD is used as an area sensor for converting an incident eyeball image into an electrical signal. Use of the frame transfer type LCD will widen the light receiving area on the surface of the CCD and enhance the numerical aperture, as to well as greatly enhance the probability of detection of Purkinje's image and enhance the sensitivity to the infrared range to thereby make the Purkinje's image detectable by a smaller quantity of illumination.

Abstract: A method of operation for a digital color camera permits the rapid accumulation of three basic color images that can be combined into a full-color reproduction. The scene to be captured is focused through a blue filter onto the active array of a conventional frame transfer CCD. The data representing the received image is condensed, by summing or bining, to reduce the number of pixels representing the image, and is transferred to the storage array of the CCD where it occupies one-half of the available storage area. The first exposure of the active array is terminated by a filter/shutter mechanism that also serves to replace the blue filter with a red one. The scene is then focused on the active array through the red filter and the exposure again terminated by the filter/shutter assembly. The data representing this image are then summed or bined to reduce the number of pixels representing the image and the data is transferred to the unoccupied one-half of the storage array.

Abstract: A video camera system combining a charge coupled device (CCD) with a rotating prism optical element is disclosed. The rotating prism optical element moves an optical image on the transducer surface of the CCD array in precise synchronism with a CCD array clock which is transferring charge between transducer sites of the array. Since charge transfer occurs in synchronism with image movement, the exposure of transducer sites to image blurring or smearing additional optical energy is eliminated. The disclosed apparatus is particularly useful for high-speed, high-resolution, military, possibly airborne, camera systems. The invention also contemplates resolution of color images, with the use of color selective filters over adjacent columns of the CCD imaging array. The invention additionally contemplates utilizing a rotating prism optical element with other types of detectors.