Nippon Electric Co., Ltd.

Nec Corporation

Hidehiko Inoue

Masanobu Morishita

Mitsuru Kawasaki

Takao Ando

Hiroshi Nakajima

Yasuichi Ushiyama

Kiyotake Nagai

Sadayuki Ikeda

An image sensing device for a TV camera and method of driving the same is disclosed whereby the effective charge accumulation time in each light-sensing row in the imaging area can be reduced thereby eliminating fuzzy images produced when fast moving objects are picked up. The driving circuit of the imaging device gives the sensor a shutter function of less than 1/60 second and up to 1/2000 second exposure time without changing the structure of the sensor. There is provided a method in which charges accumulated in each row of the light-sensing elements are taken out and discarded at an optional time during an active video period, leaving an effective charge accumulation period of less than 1/60 second.

Method of driving a two-dimensional CCD image sensor in a shutter mode

Signal charges are accumulated in photosensitive elements of an integrated semiconductor imaging matrix, the charges being divided into two parts. Responsive to first and second pulse signals, the first or preceding part of the charge from each of the elements is drawn out via a charge transfer device, as a non-information signal. The second or following part is drawn out, as an information signal, responsive to transfer pulse signals and shift pulse signals. Therefore, even in the presence of intense light, the information signal charges are stored in the photosensitive elements for only a short period of time between the ending time of the first pulse signal and the beginning time of the transfer pulse signal. Thus, the storage will not overflow the capacity of the photosensitive elements. The intensity of light used in this invention is considerably higher than the intensity of light which may be used in the conventional system; therefore, a satisfactory control can be achieved without lowering the sensitivity of the photosensitive elements. It is not necessary to provide charge sinks close to the photosensitive elements for absorbing the signal charge overflowing the elements. As a result, there is a high density of photosensitive elements and a higher resolution of stored information. Alternatively, by designing a wider area of photosensitive elements, an image sensor of higher sensitivity may also be achieved.

Methods of reducing blooming in the drive of charge-coupled image sensors

A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a charge-coupled device having photoelectric converting means for accumulating charges corresponding to incident light rays and having a charge storage means for storing and transforming said accumulated charges during periods determined by a bias signal. Means are provided for controlling the period of the bias signal and read-out means are provided for obtaining the video signal from the charge-coupled device.

CCD Imager operable in single frame and repetitive frame modes

A color signal imaging apparatus includes a charge-coupled device to convert a light signal to an electrical video signal. The time during which charges are accumulated in the imaging area of the charge-coupled device is made variable so as to enable the ready compensation of the video signal components.

Solid-state color imaging apparatus having charge-coupled devices

A system for mixing and/or keying video signals includes a number of video signal processors each of which includes a charge-coupled device as a variable delay element to bring about phase coincidence among a plurality of video signals. The amplitude of the delayed video signal from the charge-coupled device is controlled, and the amplitude-controlled video signals are mixed.

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Tokyo, Japan

Hidehiko Inoue