Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Hiroshi Tanigawa

Tetsuo Toma

Hideki Mutoh

Kazuhiro Kawashiri

Kazuhiro Kawajiri

Akio Sakota

A solid-state image pickup device of the charge-coupled type is improved in that the width W1 (as viewed in the charge transfer direction) of each of the transfer gate electrodes for generating transfer elements in the field shift mode, the width W2 (as viewed in the charge transfer direction) of each of the transfer gate electrode for generating potential barriers also in the field shift mode are selected so as to satisfy the following formula, and a buried channel junction depth X.sub.JBC of each of the vertical charge transfer paths are selected so as to satisfy W1&gt;W2 and/or W2&gt;2.multidot.X.sub.JBC. In the inventive image pickup device, the charge quantity transferred is increased without impairing the vertical resolution of the device.

Solid-state image pickup device

A solid-state CCD image pick-up device includes optoelectric transducing elements corresponding to pixels vertically and horizontally arrayed in a matrix forming column linear arrays defining a column direction and at least one vertical charge transfer path associated with a corresponding adjacent column linear array. Pixel signals are vertically transferred from the column linear arrays to the vertical charge transfer paths such that gate signals occurring at predetermined times are applied to gate electrodes of the vertical charge transfer paths to permit the pixel signals to be scan read by a horizontal charge transfer path. Switching elements are provided for transfer gate electrodes and a drive circuit sequentially generates drive signals for groups of gate electrodes during periods in which the switching elements are rendered conductive to allow a full frame scan read to be performed by supplying a predetermined number of timing signals to the gate electrodes. The pick-up device can be fabricated with high density integration and high pixel density and can be provided with an improved vertical overflow drain structure. The image pick-up device also provides an electronic shutter function having improved vertical resolution. A shift register for producing improved vertical resolution is also disclosed.

Solid-state image pick-up device for the charge-coupled device type

Solid-state image pick-up device of the charge-coupled device type

A method of driving a solid state image pickup device having a number of photoelectric conversion elements disposed in a matrix shape, a plurality of columns of vertical CCDs disposed adjacent to each column of the photoelectric conversion elements and capable of storing electric charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion elements, and a horizontal CCD connected to the vertical CCDs and capable of receiving in parallel electric charges transferred from the vertical CCDs and serially outputting the electric charges. The method includes the steps of reading electric charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion elements and storing the electric charges in the vertical CCDs sending an empty packet from the horizontal CCD to each of the vertical CCDs, the empty packet representing an area where no electric charge is present and causing electric charges in the vertical CCDs to be sequentially transferred to the horizontal CCD in relation to the empty packet being transferred form the horizontal CCD to the vertical CCDs.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Hiroshi Tanigawa