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:
Jun. 08, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1998
Hayao Ohzu, Fuchu, JP;
Toshiji Suzuki, Machida, JP;
Akira Ishizaki, Yokohama, JP;
Seiji Hashimoto, Yokohama, JP;
Tadanori Harada, Hiratsuka, JP;
Tsuneo Suzuki, Hiratsuka, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A solid state image pickup device includes light-receiving circuitry having a plurality of light-receiving cells arranged in a matrix. Apparatus is provided for reading and storing electrical signals output by the light-receiving circuitry, and includes (1) a first memory for reading bright signals out of the light-receiving cells arranged in a row for storing the bright signals for a horizontal scanning period, (2) a second memory for reading dark signals out of the light-receiving cells arranged in the row for storing the dark signal for the horizontal scanning period, and (3) a readout circuit for reading the bright and dark signals stored in the first and second memories simultaneously. A removing circuit is provided for removing fixed pattern noise by simultaneously processing the bright and dark current signals read out from the first and second memories. Preferably, this removing circuit comprises a differential amplifier. Also, the light receiving cells and the reading and storing apparatus are preferably provided on a single semiconductor substrate.