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. 02, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1998
Hidetoshi Fukuda, Yokohama, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image pickup apparatus having a function for OB clamping, the image pickup apparatus including an XY addressing type solid-state image pickup device having light receiving pixels and optically shielded OB pixels on the periphery of the light receiving pixels and drive means for driving the solid-state image pickup device in both or one of a thinned-out readout mode for reading out one light receiving pixel out of every given number of pixels and a mode of reading out the light receiving pixels in a given region, wherein OB clamping is effected by always reading out OB pixels at the same location, regardless of the above two signal readout modes or regardless of location and/or number of light receiving pixels to be read out in the above two signal readout modes. A stable OB clamping is thereby effected even when there has been a change in signal readout mode or in location and/or number of pixels to be read out.