Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels for converting incident photons into electrical charge; an overflow drain to draw off excess charge from at one or more of the pixels; a mechanism for summing charge from two or more of the pixels; a first network of resistive devices generating a first overflow drain voltage where at least one of the resistive devices has, in parallel, a fuse that can be opened in response to an external stimulus to provide the optimum overflow drain voltage for pixel anti-blooming protection and saturation signal level for when a plurality of pixels are summed together; and a second network of resistive devices connected to the first network of resistive devices generating a second overflow drain voltage where the second overflow drain voltage is a fraction of the first overflow drain voltage and the second overflow drain voltage provides the optimum overflow drain voltage for pixel anti-blooming and saturation signal level for when none or substantially none of the plurality o

Abstract: A method for obtaining image data from an image sensor array including the steps of: providing an image sensor array having a first component subset of panchromatic pixels for integrating charge and a second component subset of color pixels for integrating charge; reading pixel charge to produce pixel signals from the first component subset of the panchromatic pixels while exposing the second component subset of color pixels and digitizing and storing the first component subset signals; and reading pixel charge to produce pixel signals from the second component subset of color pixels that were exposed for at least a portion of time during the reading of pixel signals from the first component subset of the panchromatic pixels and digitizing and storing the second component subset signals.

Abstract: PDs and vertical CCDs are formed on CCD. A control unit drives the CCD by one of a first image pickup mode for executing an exposure and reading the electric charges on the vertical CCDs and transferring those, and a second image pickup mode for setting an electric charge sweep-out period in which the electric charges are swept out by applying a plurality of vertical shift clocks to the vertical CCDs within a period from a time when a transfer period in which the electric charges obtained by exposing the PDs are read on the vertical CCDs and transferred those is terminated up to a time when a next transfer period is started.

Abstract: A method for reducing smear effect in an image sensor is presented. Firstly, a first charge level value from a first set of covered elements and a second charge level value from a second set of covered elements are received. Secondly, the first and the second charge level values are compared. Thirdly, if a difference resulting from said comparing said first and said second charge level values is outside a predetermined interval, camera settings are adjusted.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are described to assist in reducing dark current in an active pixel sensor. A potential barrier arrangement is configured to block the flow of charge carriers generated outside a photosensitive region. In various embodiments, a potential well-potential barrier arrangement is formed to direct charge carriers away from the photosensitive region during an integration time.

Abstract: In a solid-state image capturing device including a pixel array arranged in a row direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto, and a vertical register having a plurality of transfer electrodes which serves to read signal charges Qa, Qb, . . . generated by light receipt of each of pixels A, B, . . . and to sequentially transfer the signal charge in the column direction upon receipt of a transfer pulse, an electric potential well for a smear charge is generated and an unnecessary charge q in the vertical register is collected into the electric potential well for a smear charge before the signal charge is read from the pixels A, B, . . . onto the vertical register (a timing t707), an electric potential well for signal charge transfer is then generated and the signal charges Qa, Qb, . . . are read from the pixels A, B, . . .

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital photographing apparatus which includes a lens for optically photographing an object, a CCD for performing photoelectric conversion for an image photographed by the lens, a buffer unit for storing the image converted by the CCD in a unit of frame or field, a controller for determining if a smear has occurred in the image output from the buffer unit, and correcting a pixel value of an image area in which the smear has occurred, an image processor for compressing the image output from the CCD by using a scheme according to characteristics and sizes of a display unit, or restoring the compressed image into an original image under the control of the controller and the display unit for displaying the image output from the image processor on a screen.

Abstract: In a solid-state image capturing device 100 comprising pixel arrays 11r, 11g and 11b arranged in a row direction and a column direction which is orthogonal thereto and a vertical register 12 including a plurality of transfer electrodes in which a signal charge generated by light acceptance of each pixel is read and is sequentially transferred in the column direction upon receipt of a transfer pulse, an electrode terminal for generating K (K is an integer of 2 or more) continuous electric potential wells for a signal charge in the vertical register 12 upon receipt of the transfer pulse and an electrode terminal for generating one electric potential well for a smear charge after the K electric potential wells for a signal charge are provided as electrode terminals 101 to 116 for cyclically transmitting the transfer pulse to each of the transfer electrodes.

Abstract: An image-sensing device has pixel areas for outputting CCD signals of plural channels, and an adjusting portion for adjusting a level of each channel of the CCD signals outputted from the pixel area. A first channel CCD signal is provided from a pixel area 11a, a horizontal OB area 15a, a slide shift area 12a, and an HCCD 13a. A second channel CCD signal is provided from a pixel area 11b, a horizontal OB area 15b, a slide shift area 12b, and an HCCD 13b. Both of the first and second CCD signals are supplied to the adjusting portion with a reference signal added. The adjusting portion controls CCD signal of each channel by making the level of reference signal the same. The variation of the shift efficiency of electric charge in the border of pixel areas 11a and 11b for each channel, and in the slide shift areas 13a and 13b can be compensated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital still camera that can read high quality image data from a solid state image pickup device in both the low and the high sensitivity modes. The digital still camera according to the present invention includes shooting mode selecting means for checking and setting a shooting mode and reading mode selecting means for selecting a suitable reading mode in accordance with the set shooting mode. As the reading mode, full-pixel reading mode and two-field reading mode are provided in this invention. The digital still camera also includes a solid state image pickup device having imaging pixels for accumulating signal charges of an image. Since the signal charges are read in the suitable reading mode, it is possible to avoid mixing colors or decreasing signal charges as time go on. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high quality image data.

Abstract: A method to overcome a disadvantage that the signal charges decrease depending upon the storage time in a photo-electric conversion unit of a solid-state image pickup device. At the moment t2 when a prescribed exposure time (t1?t2) passes, the incident light is cut off by a cut off means such as a mechanical shutter of an interlace solid-state image pickup device. Then, at the time t3, a voltage VBsub is applied to N? semiconductor substrate 107 to raise up the potential barrier ?? of the vertical OFD for the signal charges, whereby the leakage of the signal charges due to the self-induced drift, or the thermal diffusion is suppressed. Then, signal charges are read out from the odd lines at the time t4, and signal charges are read out from the even lines at the time t5.

Abstract: An image-sensing apparatus for compensating video signal of a plurality of channels, adds an electric charge of a pilot signal on a signal vertically transferred in an image-sensing device 11. A pixel area of the image-sensing device 11 is divided into a plurality of pixel areas to obtain an output signal of a plurality of channels. The pilot signal is add to an output signal of each pixel area corresponding to each channel for twice a field period, and for different electric potential. The control circuit 15 obtains a difference between the two pilot signals in one filed period, and controls the gain compensation 17 to make the pilot signal level in each channel equal. Additionally, the pilot signal is not used for compensation but the previous signal is used when a smear element is detected from the output signal of each channel.

Abstract: Two types of image signals are obtained from a solid-state image pickup device in a frame transfer system and subject to signal processing so as to extend the dynamic range. Two types of mutually different image signals are obtained from a solid-state image pickup device (11). The two types of image signals obtained through time division are matched in timing by a line memory (16). An arithmetic circuit (20) multiplies image data D1 with ratio R of storage times and subtracts image data D2 from the multiplication result R·D1 so as to generate smear data S0. The smear data S0 is multiplied with 1/(R?1) so as to generate smear data S representing the proper smear component. The smear data S is subtracted from image data D1 and D2, and the subtraction results are added to generate image data D3.

Abstract: The driving device of a solid-state imaging device comprises a driving unit for driving the solid-state imaging device in either an addition driving mode in which a plurality of pixels are added and read as a single pixel or a non-addition driving mode, and a substrate bias voltage supply for applying a bias voltage to the substrate of the solid-state imaging device according to the driving mode. The substrate bias voltage is set according to the number of pixels added in the addition driving mode so that the overflow level of the charge accumulating portion may be lower in the addition driving mode than in the normal driving mode. This suppresses the input of excess charges to the horizontal transfer path even in the addition driving mode, thereby preventing the generation of horizontal streak noise.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device has a discharge gate and a discharge drain provided adjacent to a connection of a vertical CCD and a horizontal CCD so that charges accumulated for an arbitrary pixel can be completely depleted. Data can be read at an arbitrary decimation rate only by changing a drive condition of the discharge gate. An arbitrary decimation rate can be achieved and a frame rate, resolution or the like can easily changed while vertical transfer electrodes can keep the same wiring structure as in a still mode (normal reading) without making a complicated wiring structure of vertical transfer electrodes such as the prior art. Therefore, this solid-state image pickup device can achieve an arbitrary decimation rate and easily change a frame rate, resolution or the like only by changing drive conditions without making a complicated wiring structure of vertical transfer electrodes.

Abstract: An image pickup device comprises a CCD solid-state imaging element composed of a charge accumulation section and a charge transfer section, a CCD driver for driving the imaging element, a mechanical shutter for switching between the transmitting state and shading state of the subject's image on the imaging element, and a controller for controlling the CCD driver and mechanical shutter. The controller, closes, opens and closes the mechanical shutter in that order. After having discharged charges in the first closing, the device refrains from driving the vertical transfer channel during the period that the channel is exposed to light rays and ends exposure in the presence of a charge transfer pulse. Moreover, in a low-speed shutter, the image pickup device switches to exposure end with the mechanical shutter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing smear in electronic images utilizes estimated smear signals to remove components in the image signals of the electronic images that are attributable to the smear. The estimated smear signals correspond to the smear components of the image signals. The estimated smear signals are generated by collecting electrical charges in an electronic image sensor after an exposure period. The estimated smear signals may be generated in sequence to the acquisition of the image signals. Alternatively, the estimated smear signals may be generated in parallel to the acquisition of the image signals.

Abstract: An image processor includes unit pixel circuits, each circuit outputting a pixel value, according to incident light, to an output line; and read circuits in each row and each column, each of which can read out a pixel value of each unit pixel circuit and a result of computing for projection for each row and each column. The unit pixel circuits of each row and column and the corresponding read circuits are connected to each other by discrete output lines. The result of computing for projection readout by the compression processing is an average of pixel values in the unit pixel circuits of each row and of each column.

Abstract: There has been raised a problem of how to make the measurement of characteristics of a solid state image pickup device easy to carry out, to shorten the measurement time and to increase the measurement accuracy. In order to solve the problem described above, the solid state image pickup device is operated to generate an output with an operating condition for an odd field made different from that for an even field. For example, a dark signal can be detected with the supply of read pulses for either odd or even fields halted typically at the same time as a playback signal is detected in a state of being shielded from light or a state of applying an incident light with a predetermined quantity. As a result, it is possible not only to measure a variety of characteristics merely under a plurality of conditions at the same time but also to further process outputs of the odd and even fields in order to measure still another characteristic such as a dark current generated by an image pickup area.

Abstract: In a solid-state image capturing device including a pixel array arranged in a row direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto, and a vertical register having a plurality of transfer electrodes which serves to read signal charges Qa, Qb, . . . generated by light receipt of each of pixels A, B, . . . and to sequentially transfer the signal charge in the column direction upon receipt of a transfer pulse, an electric potential well for a smear charge is generated and an unnecessary charge q in the vertical register is collected into the electric potential well for a smear charge before the signal charge is read from the pixels A, B, . . . onto the vertical register (a timing t707), an electric potential well for signal charge transfer is then generated and the signal charges Qa, Qb, . . . are read from the pixels A, B, . . .

Abstract: In a solid-state image capturing device 100 comprising pixel arrays 11r, 11g and 11b arranged in a row direction and a column direction which is orthogonal thereto and a vertical register 12 including a plurality of transfer electrodes in which a signal charge generated by light acceptance of each pixel is read and is sequentially transferred in the column direction upon receipt of a transfer pulse, an electrode terminal for generating K (K is an integer of 2 or more) continuous electric potential wells for a signal charge in the vertical register 12 upon receipt of the transfer pulse and an electrode terminal for generating one electric potential well for a smear charge after the K electric potential wells for a signal charge are provided as electrode terminals 101 to 116 for cyclically transmitting the transfer pulse to each of the transfer electrodes.

Abstract: The image sensing device includes an image sensing area 22 having an antiblooming drain structure; and a frame memory area 24 coupled to the image sensing area 22 for storing charge from the image sensing area, wherein during charge integration, the antiblooming drain is biased at a first level, and during charge transfer to memory, the antiblooming drain is biased at a second level such that the image sensing area 22 will have a higher charge capacity than during the charge integration.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device and a signal processing circuit. The solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of photoelectric converting sections provided with color filters having different spectroscopic characteristics, and each converting light incident thereon into a charge and accumulating the charge, and a plurality of vertical charge transfer sections for vertically transferring the charge read from each of the photoelectric converting sections. A plurality of reading operations to read the charges accumulated in the photoelectric converting sections to the plurality of the vertical charge transfer sections are performed within a time duration for scanning an image for one image plane, and the charges read from the photoelectric converting sections are transferred through the vertical charge transfer section separately for each of the reading operations.

Abstract: In a CCD type solid state image pickup apparatus including two-dimensionally arranged photodiodes, a plurality of vertical transfer registers, and at least one horizontal transfer register, at least two different signal charges of each column of the photodiodes based upon different charge storing time periods are transferred to one of the vertical transfer registers, so that the different signal charges are combined with respective smear charges within the vertical transfer registers. The different signal charges combined with the smear charges and independent smear charges are transferred to the horizontal transfer register. One of the independent smear charges is subtracted from each of the different signal charges combined with the smear charges, and as a result, obtained different signal charges are summed to generate an output voltage.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device compensates for reset noise by integrated correlated double sampling to determine a difference between a reference signal obtained in a feed through period and a video signal obtained in a video signal time period. The device reduces the effect of high-frequency noise through integration. The problem of small CCD output affecting the linearity of integration is compensated by an integration coefficient control device that controls an integration coefficient of an integrating circuit. The integration coefficient control device performs this control in dependence on an applied control signal. Under low light conditions, a control signal applied to the integration coefficient control device changes the integration coefficient so that an integrated value of the integrating circuit is enlarged. The enlarged integrated value of the integrating circuit provides improved linearity and makes the apparatus less susceptible to noise from other circuits.

Abstract: Novel isooxazoles, oxazoles, thiazoles, isothiazoles and imidazoles, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and their use as endothelin receptor antagonists are described.

Abstract: A method for reducing smear in video images generated by a frame transfer CCD imaging system having an array of charge coupled devices. The video images comprise successive image frames, each frame including an array of image pixels corresponding to the array of charge coupled devices. The pixel array has a plurality of rows and columns. Each frame is temporally separated from a next successive frame by an integration time interval during which light falling upon the array of charge coupled devices is integrated to produce integrated charge samples representative of image frame pixel values, and by a transfer interval during which the charge samples are transferred from an imaging area to a storage area.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device compensates for reset noise by integrated correlated double sampling to determine a difference between reference signal obtained in a feed through period and a video signal obtained in a video signal time period. The device reduces the effect of high-frequency noise through integration. The problem of small CCD output affecting the linearity of integration is compensated by an integration coefficient control device that controls an integration coefficient of an integrating circuit. The integration coefficient control device performs this control in dependence on an applied control signal. Under low light conditions, a control signal applied to the integration coefficent control device changes the integration coefficent so that an integrated value of the integrating circuit is enlarged. The enlarged integrated value of the integrating circuit provides improved linearity an makes the appartus less susceptible to noise from other circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensing device having a reduced number of transistors within each imager cell as compared to prior art devices. Each imager cell includes a photosensitive element providing a photocharge responsive to incoming light, and first, second and third transistors. The first transistor is coupled to an activation line, e.g., a row select line, that carries an activation signal to a first plurality of imager cells to selectively activate cells for image data readout. This transistor transfers the photocharge towards a reference circuit node within the image cell in response to the activation signal. The second transistor is operably coupled to the first transistor, and is operative to selectively set a voltage level at the reference node. The third transistor has a control terminal coupled to the reference node, and an output terminal coupled to an output data bus common to a second plurality of image cells, e.g., a column of cells.

Abstract: The absence of a memory matrix in full frame CCD imagers renders it difficult to convert an image with a sufficiently high frame rate for displaying it again in a satisfactory manner on, for example, an LCD screen. To eliminate this disadvantage, an image is projected on a segment of the imaging matrix in an embodiment of the invention and, after the integration period, is stored in an adjoining, separately controllable segment which is used as a memory during the read-out while in the first segment a fresh image is received and converted into electric charge. During the transfer of the information from the first to the second segment, empty lines are formed between the lines containing information, in which empty lines compensation charge is formed during the charge storage which can be subtracted from the signals so as to compensate for the smear added to the signals during storage in the--exposed--second segment.

Abstract: A method of removing columnar streaks from a digital image of the type in which it is assumed that pixels in a predetermined region near a given pixel are strongly related to each other and employing gain and offset values to compute streak removal information, a test is performed for a strong relation between the pixels in a predetermined region near a given pixel and streak removal information is computed only if such a strong relationship exists, whereby image content that does not extend the full length of the image in the column direction will not be interpreted as a streak.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes an array of photosensitive elements for storing signal charges, a plurality of vertical shift registers for storing the signal charges transferred from the photosensitive elements, charge storage sections for storing one field of signal charges transferred from the respective vertical shift registers, a horizontal shift register for storing one line of signal charges transferred thereto successively at time intervals from the charge storage sections, a timing generator for producing clock pulses for driving the vertical shift registers to transfer the signal charges from the vertical shift registers to the charge storage sections and to sweep residual charges from the vertical shift registers, and a driver for amplifying the clock pulses fed thereto from the timing generator. The driver has a variable amplification factor.

Abstract: A method of driving a solid-state image pickup device includes steps of using vertical charge-coupled devices each having a pixel section and a vacant packet section to fetch all the electric charges stored in photoelectric conversion elements to the pixel sections of the vertical charge-coupled devices, feeding vacant packets into the vertical charge-coupled devices from a horizontal charge-coupled device at every N-th row, thereby dispersing the vacant packets while transferring the electric charges to the lowermost row of the vacant packet section, feeding the vacant packets corresponding to one row to the vertical charge-coupled devices from the horizontal charge-coupled device during only a horizontal blanking period of each horizontal period to thereby cause the vacant packets to be transferred upwardly along the vertical charge-coupled devices by M rows (where M<N), while during a horizontal scanning period, the transfer along the vertical charge-coupled devices is interrupted and the electric charg

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus having an electronic zooming function for enlarging and interpolating an image by electronic image processing of an image pickup signal output from an image pickup device, a focus is detected by extracting a predetermined focal signal varying depending upon a focal state from the image pickup signal before the image pickup signal undergoes enlargement/interpolation processing by electronic zooming.

Abstract: In charge-coupled imaging devices it is generally necessary to provide zones (12) in the matrix with a contact. These zones may form part, for example, of a mechanism for draining charge, for example as a protection against overexposure. In the case of imaging devices with a horizontal readout register on one side of the matrix, these contacts can be provided on the opposite side. However, it is often desirable or even necessary, as in the case of imaging devices with four-quadrant readout, to provide such contacts on the same side as the horizontal readout register. To this end, a dummy line (14'-17') is provided in accordance with the invention between the matrix and the horizontal readout register (6), said dummy line having an electrode structure which leaves room for contact windows (22) to the zones (12).

Abstract: In a solid state image pickup device including a semiconductor substrate, a photo/electro conversion element and a register formed within the semiconductor substrate, and an photoshield layer having a slit-type aperture for limiting light incident to the photo/electro conversion element, an optical element is provided for the slit-type aperture, to thereby pass polarized light having an electric field polarization face polarized in the longitudinal direction of the slit-type aperture.

Abstract: An output circuit of a solid-state imaging device has been improved. The output circuit receives a plurality of pixel signals in a dummy bit portion, an optical black portion and an effective pixel portion from a charge transfer device of the solid-state imaging device.

Abstract: A CCD for detecting images includes a substrate, a well region formed on the semiconductor substrate, a horizontal CCD (HCCD) formed in the well region, a photodiode region formed in the well region at a prescribed spacing from the HCCD, a channel stop layer, an impurity diffusion layer which serves as a potential barrier region around the side and lower portions of the photodiode region so as to completely separate the photodiode region from the well region, a gate insulating layer formed on the substrate, a polygate formed on the gate insulating layer above the HCCD, an insulating layer formed on portions of the gate insulating layer, and a metal shielding layer formed on the insulating layer, whereby a smear phenomenum is prevented.

Abstract: Dataform readers using two-dimensional sensor array cameras provide image frames comprising successive first and second fields of image data. In hand-held operation, hand jitter results in image offset causing registration errors between fields. Resolution and decoding performance are enhanced by described readers and methods. Decoding is implemented first by use of image data of a first field and the results of such decoding are supplemented by results of decoding of remaining portions of the dataform by use of second field image data. Decoding may also be carried out by first determining the magnitude of a disparity vector extending in the direction of image offset. The disparity vector is then used to provide enhanced decoding by use of first field image data and registration-corrected second field image data.

Abstract: A smear correction circuit for elimination of smear error within image sensing devices wherein image receiving means receive CCD image data, a determination of a smear scaling factor for smear estimation is made, the smear scaling factor being determined by a ratio of smear error per given level of illumination. The smear estimation means provide for the determining of a value for smear estimation on a per line basis. Adjustment of the image data is made corresponding to the smear estimation and dark level correction values prior applying the adjusted data to gain adjustment circuitry.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for an endoscope including a smearing component extraction device for extracting a smearing component caused by a high luminance light beam from an original image composed of an image signal of a subject to be imaged. The image processing apparatus also includes a device for correcting the original image composed of the image signal by use of the signal of the smearing component extracted by the smearing component extraction device and reduces or eliminates smearing when a laser treatment is carried out to thereby improve the quality of an image to be observed.

Abstract: A charge coupled device image sensor which can prevent smear and improve sensitivity, including a substrate of a first conductive type, a first well of a second conductive type formed on one side of said substrate, a second well of the second conductive type formed on the other side of said substrate, a pair of photo-detecting areas formed adjoining in said first well, a pair of charge transfer areas formed close to each photo-detecting area and adjoining in said second well, a channel stop area formed between said adjoining photo-detecting areas and said charge transfer areas and for isolating each of the areas,.

Abstract: A smear noise eradication method in a charge-coupled device (CCD) type camera comprises the steps of inputting respective image signals from one pair of CCD image pick-up devices whose lengthwise directions of corresponding vertical CCDs are perpendicularly disposed with respect to each other, and which are installed on an optical path, and eradicating smear noise after comparing the one pair of image signals according to corresponding pixels. Using the one pair of CCD image pick-up devices, the image signals of the CCD image pick-up devices are compared with each other. When the smear noise is generated, it is eradicated to obtain a high quality image signal.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for correcting for changes in the charge transfer efficiency of a charge coupled device (12) includes a light source (38) for providing synthetic reference images to a preselected portion (26) of the image array (16) of the charge coupled device (12). The initial synthetic reference image is compared with subsequent synthetic references images to determine the changes in the charge transfer efficiency of the charge coupled device (12). The changes are used to correct images form the image array (16).

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a smear compensation circuit in which the memory capacity of a memory can be reduced without deteriorating the quality of a reproduced image based on an output of a solid state image pickup device.A peak value of the video signal in the vertical blanking period is detected by a peak detecting circuit (10) and a gain of smear data written in a 1H memory (8) is adjusted by (xA) in response to the detected peak value, whereby the smear data is stored in the memory having a restricted memory capacity. Further, when the data is read out from the 1H memory (8), the gain of the read-out data is adjusted in an opposite manner (x1/A) to thereby obtain a smear component of the original level. Then, this smear component is subtracted from the video signal.

Abstract: In the method of transferring charges generated by signal charge generating sections in response to light, a signal charge existing under some transfer electrode of the plural charge transfer sections arranged in parallel to each other is transferred through one of a plurality of connecting sections formed under the transfer electrode corresponding to another charge transfer section among the plural connecting sections formed between the plural charge transfer sections, on the basis of a predetermined drive pulse; and when the charge is transferred to the other charge transfer section, a charge remaining at the primary charge transfer section is transferred from the primary charge transfer section to the other charge transfer section, through the other connecting section among the plural connecting sections, to combine the remaining charge with the signal charge previously transferred.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an image pick-up device is provided with arrays of photoelectric elements, and vertical transfer portions are located adjacent to the arrays of photoelectric elements. A photographing lens for forming a focused image of an object to be photographed on the light receiving surface of the image pick-up device, a release device for performing a release operation, and a diaphragm device having a diaphragm for adjusting the quantity of light incident upon said light-receiving surface of the image pick-up device are provided. The diaphragm is normally fully closed but when a release operation is commenced, the diaphragm device opens the diaphragm to a predetermined diaphragm value, and fully closes the diaphragm in accordance with a predetermined stop-down speed after a completion of the exposure.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device in which a light-barrier layer is formed on transfer electrodes on top of a vertical pixel isolating region by an insulating film. The light-barrier layer is adapted to overlie the lateral sides of the transfer electrodes and the peripheral region of a photosensor region neighboring on the vertical pixel isolating region. By provision of the light-barrier layer, the light incident on the vertical pixel isolating region is stopped to reduce smear charges which might otherwise be intruded into the vertical charge transfer section.

Abstract: In a CCD device, on a semiconductor substrate, and in the insulation films, plural first semiconductor regions and plural second semiconductor regions are formed buried in the insulation films, intermediating a tunneling insulation film therebetween in a manner to spatially isolate them from each other.

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.