Abstract: An image sensing element according to the invention has a plurality of pixels arranged in the row and column directions to sense an optical image. The respective pixels are mutually deviated by an amount of 1/2 pitch with respect to the adjacent rows. Color filters are arranged for the respective pixels. These color filters are mutually deviated by an amount of 180.degree. of the phase with regard to the vertical adjacent rows. Each pixel includes at least a transfer electrode formed of polysilicon having a thickness of not larger than 300 .ANG..

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprising:a mounting plate of an image to be read; a supporting device coupled with the mounting plate; a converter, supported by the supporting device, for converting the image to an electric signal; and a monitor display unit, supported by the supporting device, for displaying on the basis of the electric signal.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises: first and second areas for converting an incident light to charges; a recombining electrode for allowing a part of the charges in the second area to be recombined with majority carriers; and a control circuit for allowing the charges to be respectively stored in the first and second areas and also making the recombining electrode operative, and for controlling the first and second areas and the recombinating electrode in such a manner that there is a relation of A.sub.INT <D.sub.INT between an amount A.sub.INT of charges stored in the first area and an amount D.sub.INT of residual charges which are not recombined in the second area. Thus, an interlacing effect and a strong blooming-prevention effect are obtained. Further, the image pickup apparatus has a suppressing device for suppressing a part of added information of the charges in the first and second areas, so that the dynamic range of luminance can be widened.

Abstract: A charge transfer device comprising, photoelectric converting elements arranged along rows and columns, first charge transfer paths to horizontally transfer the charges obtained by those elements, a second charge transfer path to vertically transfer the charges transferred through the first charge transfer paths, and third charge transfer paths to couple the respective charge output parts of the first charge transfer paths and the charge input parts of the second charge transfer path corresponding to the output parts. Each third charge transfer path is connected to the first and second charge transfer paths so as to form almost an obtuse angle to those first and second paths, respectively.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image section, a black level detection section, a storage section, a read out device, and a compensator. The image section is capable of receiving light and includes a plurality of horizontal shift registers juxtaposed in the vertical direction. The black level detector section is shielded from light and is formed at the start portion of transference of each horizontal shift register of the image section. The storage section is formed adjoining the image section in the horizontal direction and stores image signals produced in the image section and black level signals produced in the shielded section. The read out device reads out the signals stored in the storage section line-by-line in a horizontal scanning period. The compensator clamps a black level signal in the signals of one horizontal line read out by the read out device to a predetermined reference level.

Abstract: An image recording system capable of storing images at high density wherein a photoelectric conversion member, which converts an optical image into electric image information, is formed in a film configuration, optical images are incident to a plurality of different regions on the photoelectric conversion member through an optical low-pass filter and a color separation filter to store a plurality of color images, the photoelectric conversion member is made to contact the optical low-pass filter, and a scan unit is provided for scanning an electron beam to the photoelectric conversion member.

Abstract: In a monolithic sensor IC, the light sensing element is formed on a base plate and a light-absorber coating such as black paint is provided on the surface of the semiconductor at positions other than the light path to the light sensing element, with the surface of the light-sensing element being provided with a reflection-prevention coating and with the entire sensor being housed within a package, the inside of the package of the IC also being provided with light-absorbing black paint.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a photodetector for converting an optical image to a charge signal; a recombination circuit for recombining a portion of the charges in the photodetector with the majority carrier; an instruction circuit for instructing change-over between the still mode, in which only one predetermined image signal is formed in the photodetector, and the movie mode, in which a plurality of image signals are formed; and a controller for switching the recombining capability by the recombination circuit during the formation of an image in accordance with an instruction output of the instruction circuit, in which the recombining capability in the still mode is controlled so as to be higher than that in the movie mode.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises: first and second areas for converting an incident light to charges; a recombining electrode for allowing a part of the charges in the second area to be recombined with majority carriers; and a control circuit for allowing the charges to be respectively stored in the first and second areas and also making the recombining electrode operative, and for controlling the first and second areas and the recombining electrode in such a manner that there is a relation of A.sub.INT <D.sub.INT between an amount A.sub.INT of charges stored in the first area and an amount D.sub.INT of residual charges which are not recombined in the second area. Thus, an interlacing effect and a strong blooming-prevention effect are obtained. Further, the image pickup apparatus has a suppressing device for suppressing a part of added information of the charges in the first and second areas, so that the dynamic range of luminance can be widened.

Abstract: An image pick-up device which uses a charge transfer type solid state image pick-up device, and further is provided with a shutter so as to form a high quality picture signal in such a manner that smear is prevented by prohibiting the incidence of light on the device while the charge is being transferred in the device. Further, the device is driven by a clock signal for still photographing in order to obtain a high quality picture information for one frame. Further, the photographing parameter is automatically changed over or the monitor is changed over between the motion picture photographing mode and the still photographing mode.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor having picture elements; an electronic monitor having a number of scanning lines fewer than the vertical picture elements of the image sensor; and a driving circuit for reading from the image sensor a fewer scanning lines when the apparatus is in a monitor mode than when the apparatus is in an image sensing mode. The driving circuit reads the image sensor in a non-interlacing manner in the monitor mode. A switching circuit shuts off power to unused circuits when the apparatus is in various operating modes.

Abstract: A color image sensor has an image section, a buffer section, a storage section, and an overflow drain section which are aligned horizontally. Both the image section and the storage section are formed of a plurality of horizontal shift registers juxtaposed in the vertical direction, with the storage section having half as many horizontal shift registers as the image section. The buffer section can be operated in a first mode in which image signals from two horizontal shift registers in the image section are added together and transferred to a corresopnding horizontal shift register in the storage section, and in a second mode in which image signals from either even or odd horizontal shift registers in the image section are transferred to corresponding horizontal shift registers in the storage section. Pixels of each of the horizontal shift registers in the image section are provided with color filters having one of three different colors C1, C2, C3, such as red, green, and blue.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a photo detecting unit for converting an optical image to electrical information; and unnecessary charge transfer unit, formed in the end portion of the photo detecting unit, for transferring the unnecessary charges; a charge removing unit provided at the final end of the unnecessary charge transfer unit; and a drive circuit for driving the unnecessary charge transfer unit synchronously with the transfer of the whole electrical information in the photo detecting unit.

Abstract: In order to clear at a high speed unwanted charge in a solid image sensing element of a charge transfer type, a potential barrier for allowing passage of excessive charge in the direction of the transfer of a CCD shift register, is provided. Also, in order to clear the charge of the CCD shift register via the barrier, an overflow drain is provided. Thus, the clearing action is effected at a high speed, and also, a blooming can be eliminated.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises a charge transfer type of image sensor having electrodes which can form a plurality of potential wells in each picture element of the photo-receiving surface including a plurality of picture elements; and a control circuit having a mode in that the electrodes are controlled so as to respectively form only one potential well in each of the picture element when storing charges and to sequentially read out the charges in each potential well, and a mode in that the electrodes are controlled so as to respectively form a plurality of potential wells in each of the picture elements when storing charges and to mix the charges in a predetermined plurality of potential wells and to sequentially read out them.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a photodetector for converting an optical image to a charge signal; a recombination circuit for recombining a portion of the charges in the photodetector with the majority carrier; an instruction circuit for instructing change-over between the still mode, in which only one predetermined image signal is formed in the photodetector, and the movie mode, in which a plurality of image signals are formed; and a controller for switching the recombining capability by the recombination circuit during the formation of an image in accordance with an instruction output of the instruction circuit, in which the recombining capability in the still mode is controlled so as to be higher than that in the movie mode.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a photo detecting unit for converting an optical image to electrical information; and unnecessary charge transfer unit, formed in a peripheral portion of the photo detecting unit, for transferring the unnecessary charges; a charge removing unit provided at the final end of the unnecessary charge transfer unit; and a drive circuit for driving the unnecessary charge transfer unit synchronously with the transfer of the whole electrical information in the photo detecting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting the focusing condition of an image forming optical system to an object, in which two images of the object are formed with respective light beams from the prescribed exit pupil areas lying in almost symmetry to each other with respect to the optical axis of the optical system and are sensed to obtain an equal number of picture element data for each of the images, and based on the thus-obtained picture element data, while sequential shifting for the first image is carried out from its one end to its opposite end, and a sequential shifting for the second image from its symmetric one end thereto to its opposite end, each by a predetermined number of picture elements, a correlation betweeen the first and second images in every predetermined equal number of picture elements is sought, whereby an optimum correlation is obtained, the corresponding mutual positional relationship between the above-described predetermined numbers of picture elements is detected to discriminate whether

Abstract: A focus detecting system has a signal processing circuit for processing output signals from photoelectric transducer elements and generating an output representing the focusing state. A circuit is provided to stabilize the output against abrupt changes in focusing condition.

Abstract: A signal processor comprises: a color filter consisting of portions having a plurality of color spectral characteristics; a photoelectric converting device for converting the light transmitted through the filter into an electric signal; a plurality of horizontal shift registers; a plurality of vertical shift registers for distributing and storing an output of one of these shift registers for each color component; and a driver circuit for driving the vertical shift registers.