Abstract: A charge-coupled imager includes an imaging section, a read-out section, and a way to reduce the number of charge packets for every row read. The imager is switchable between at least two read-out modes. The imaging section includes image elements arranged in a two-dimensional pattern. The read-out section includes at least a first horizontal CCD channel disposed beside the two-dimensional pattern, a second horizontal CCD channel and vertical CCD channels interlineated within the pattern of image elements. The imager is operable so that every image element of a row is individually readable in a first read-out mode using the first horizontal CCD channel comprising n charge storage locations. The imager is further operable in a second read-out mode so that a lower horizontal sampling frequency is read from the read-out section than in the first read-out mode using a second horizontal CCD channel comprising fewer storage locations than n.

Abstract: Known full-frame imagers, as used in digital cameras, for example, may comprise a monitor-mode read out mode. In such a mode, a subset of the total number of lines, for example 240 lines, that have been recorded in the imaging section is used, while the remaining lines are dumped (vertical subsampling). This facilitates the readout of 15 . . . 0.30 images per second, which can be displayed on an LCD monitor that may be used as a viewfinder of the camera.