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:
Mar. 12, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 30, 1998
Keiichi Akagawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention concerns an image-pickup apparatus and a method for driving the same, adapted for reading signal charges accumulated in a plurality of photodetection portions provided on a predetermined plane through vertical transfer lines and a horizontal transfer line. The image-pickup apparatus has the structure for establishing potential wells having a length not smaller than a vertical width of a horizontal line, in the vertical transfer lines, thereby permitting the horizontal width of the vertical transfer lines to be decreased. Since the image-pickup apparatus has the structure for establishing the plurality of potential wells having signal charges in the vertical transfer lines at a predetermined time, the signal charges can be transferred efficiently with keeping low driving speed of the vertical transfer lines.