The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 1989
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1988
Tsutomu Nakamura, Ina, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A solid state imaging apparatus includes an internal amplification type of light-receiving element which constitutes a picture element, a signal processing circuit incorporating a pre-amplifier for processing a video signal current of the light-receiving element constituting a picture element, an internal amplification type of reference light-receiving element which is shielded from light illumination, a feedback loop provided in the pre-amplifier for controlling the gate voltage of the reference light-receiving element such that a current having the same value as that of the video signal current of the light-receiving element constituting a picture element is caused to flow to the reference light-receiving element, and means for discharging the dark current charge accumulated in the reference light-receiving element in the period during which the video signal current from the light-receiving element constituting the picture element is suspended. Therefore, the reference light-receiving element functions as a negative feedback element of the pre-amplifier, by means of which the gate voltage of the reference light-receiving element is varied such that a source current which is equivalent to that of the light-receiving element constituting a picture element is caused to flow therethrough under the same bias conditions as in the case of the light-receiving element constituting a picture element, enabling an output which is linear to the quantity of light which is received to be produced as the output of the pre-amplifier.