Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arrayed in two dimensions, each having a photoelectric conversion device, a means for resetting signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device, a memory means for retaining signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device, and a transfer means for transferring signal accumulated at the photoelectric conversion device to the memory means, the signal retained at the memory means being outputted as signal of the pixel, and further including: a global control means, the pixel section having a plurality of pixel regions divided in row direction, for concurrently effecting the reset operation and the transfer operation, respectively, with treating the divided pixel region as a unit; a vertical scanning means for controlling sequence in outputting signals of the pixels with treating the divided pixel region as a unit; and a first and a second horizontal read means for outputting signals of the pixels of two pix

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, each containing an amplification means for amplifying signal of a photoelectric conversion device; horizontal and vertical read circuits for reading pixel signals in pixel units from the pixel section; and load means provided respectively at opposite locations with the pixel section between, the load means serving as one unit of load on the amplification means of each pixel arranged on each column line.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus of an aspect of this invention can appropriately correct the black level of a video signal even when a high-luminance state or spotlight exists. The apparatus includes an effective pixel unit to receive object light, and a light-shielded light-shielded pixel unit to output an optical black level equivalent signal. In addition to the output from the effective pixel unit, one of the output from the light-shielded pixel unit and a predetermined reference voltage is selectively output.

Abstract: An image capture device comprises an imaging unit which includes a plurality of output terminals and a light receiving unit composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of an array of columns and rows and each having a photoelectric conversion element which, upon receiving light, produces a photoelectric conversion output signal, and wherein the imaging unit is configured to output photoelectric conversion output signals from the pixels onto the output terminals, signal amplifiers each of which is connected to a corresponding respective one of the output terminals, a detection unit which, after the photoelectric conversion output signals have reached a saturation level, detects the magnitude of saturation output signals from the output terminals, and a setting unit which sets the gains of the respective signal amplifiers so that the saturation output signals detected by the detection unit become equal in magnitude to one another.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, each containing an amplification means for amplifying signal of a photoelectric conversion device; horizontal and vertical read circuits for reading pixel signals in pixel units from the pixel section; and load means provided respectively at opposite locations with the pixel section between, the load means serving as one unit of load on the amplification means of each pixel arranged on each column line.

Abstract: A system controller controls a solid-state image sensor, and performs read-out at a predetermined subsampling ratio. In the event that the size of the image-taking area and the subsampling ratio do not agree, the system controller executes image size conversion processing with a digital processing unit, and converts the image size to an image size corresponding to a request from a peripheral device unit. Also, the system controller performs changing of the image-taking area following ending of the reading out from the solid-state image sensor, thereby obtaining normal frame signals. Accordingly, even in the event that zooming is performed by changing the subsampling ratio, zooming operations can be performed with an arbitrary zooming ratio, and reading out of the image-taking information is made to be suitable.

Abstract: In an XY address type solid-state imager apparatus comprising a solid-state imager having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged, and horizontal and vertical scanning circuits to read signals of the pixels, the scanning circuits each have a progressive scanning circuit to progressively read pixel signals by a first scanning control signal, and an interlace scanning circuit to read pixel signals with an interlaced manner by a second scanning control signal different from the first scanning control signal, and arbitrarily carries out combining of progressive reading and interlace reading in one frame in accordance with a combination of the respective scanning control signals, and reads pixel signals.

Abstract: In a solid-state image sensing apparatus according to one mode of the present invention, a vertical scanning circuit and a horizontal scanning circuit are controlled to thereby alternately read a middle portion continuous signal and a whole region decimation signal of pixels for each frame in accordance with a use application. Moreover, a pixel row selected in reading the middle portion continuous signal is common to that selected in reading the whole region decimation signal, and further as to each selected pixel row, a pixel signal of a middle portion is read as the middle portion continuous signal, and a pixel signal obtained by decimation every predetermined pixels is read as the whole region decimation signal.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus having output channels CH1 and CH2 has first and second driving modes in which pixel signals of pixels in the same image sensing area are read out. The number of output channels to be used is changed between the first driving mode and the second driving mode. In at least one of the two modes, the phase of the read timing of pixel signals of pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction is shifted by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image pick-up device includes a pixel portion having the matrix arrangement of pixels for converting a subject image to an electric signal, and a scanning unit having a plurality of sub-scanning circuits for outputting a video signal, including a first scanning circuit for selecting a pixel position in a first direction of the matrix in the pixel portion and a second scanning circuit for selecting a pixel position in a second direction intersecting at the first direction. At least one of the first scanning circuit and the second scanning circuit shares the respective signal lines. Further, the image pick-up device includes a scanning control circuit for controlling the first scanning circuit and the second scanning circuit. The structures of pixel areas are uniform, the structures of wirings are uniform, and the structures of vertical and horizontal driving systems and an output system are uniform.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an XY-addressing solid-state imaging apparatus including a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels and a horizontal and vertical scanning circuits for reading pixel signals of the solid-state imaging device; a shift register of at least one of the horizontal and vertical scanning circuits including shift register units serially connected in a large number of stages for transferring information related to scan location by clock and a storing section connected through a storing switch and transmitting switch to each shift register unit; the solid-state imaging apparatus also includes a drive control means for causing the storing section to store a scan start location information in a scan start location setting period before a main scanning so that the scan start location information is transmitted from the storing section in the main scanning to start scanning from a desired scan start location and for effecting the storing of the scan start locati

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus of an aspect of this invention can appropriately correct the black level of a video signal even when a high-luminance state or spotlight exists. The apparatus includes an effective pixel unit to receive object light, and a light-shielded light-shielded pixel unit to output an optical black level equivalent signal. In addition to the output from the effective pixel unit, one of the output from the light-shielded pixel unit and a predetermined reference voltage is selectively output.

Abstract: A image pick-up device includes a pseudo signal generating circuit which generates a pseudo video signal, a pseudo signal reading circuit which reads and outputs the pseudo signal from the pseudo signal generating circuit, and a level control circuit which controls the level of a signal outputted by the pseudo signal generating circuit. The image pick-up device can detect the property difference in signal lines.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes an image pick-up device and a filter circuit. The image pick-up device includes a pixel portion for converting a subject image into an electric signal, a scanning circuit for dividing the pixel portion into a plurality of areas, for non-linearly dividing the boundary of the areas of at least one side of the adjacent areas based on the unit of pixel, and a plurality of output circuits for individually outputting video signals. The filter circuit performs filter processing of the video signals outputted from the plurality of output circuits for the pixels near the boundary of the areas. Thus, the image quality can be improved in the multi-channel output system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an XY-addressing type solid-state imaging apparatus including: a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; and a horizontal and vertical scanning circuits for reading signals of the pixels, wherein the vertical scanning circuit concurrently selects the pixels of n rows (n being an integer of 2 or more) at a first timing to concurrently effect a reset operation of the pixels of the n rows thereof and selects at a second timing subsequent to the first timing the pixels of n rows of the address different from the rows selected at the first timing to effect a reset operation of the pixels of the n rows thereof, reset operation in this manner being repeated to effect a reset operation of all pixels.

Abstract: A system controller controls a solid-state image sensor, and performs read-out at a predetermined subsampling ratio. In the event that the size of the image-taking area and the subsampling ratio do not agree, the system controller executes image size conversion processing with a digital processing unit, and converts the image size to an image size corresponding to a request from a peripheral device unit. Also, the system controller performs changing of the image-taking area following ending of the reading out from the solid-state image sensor, thereby obtaining normal frame signals. Accordingly, even in the event that zooming is performed by changing the subsampling ratio, zooming operations can be performed with an arbitrary zooming ratio, and reading out of the image-taking information is made to be suitable.