Abstract: A charge-coupled solid-state imaging device is arranged in such a manner that the pixel signal generated at each pixel is transferred through a plurality of divided transfer elements generated at each vertical charge transfer path and that the divided transferred pixel signals are synthesized at the horizontal charge transfer path and then outputted as the original pixel signal. The charge transfer capacity is therefore increased even if the width of each vertical charge transfer path is narrowed, thereby preventing blooming and dynamic range reduction. In addition, the narrowing of the width of each vertical charge transfer path allows the aperture to be increased commensurate with the degree of narrowing to thereby improve light receiving sensitivity and result in an advantageous high-resolution imaging device.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for driving a charge-coupled solid-state interline imaging device which removes smear components and dark current to prevent flicker in the imaging device. The drive method and apparatus controls the drive signals so that the transfer elements of the imaging device are uniform while an optical image is being exposed. Also, a dummy scanning transfer operation is performed to the vertical and horizontal charge transfer paths after the exposure. Furthermore, the potential levels of the vertical charge transfer paths may be set to an equal level. As a result, the smear components on the vertical charge transfer paths are uniform so that the flicker in the reproduced optical image is significantly reduced.