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:
Nov. 02, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2000
PENTAX Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes, a vertical transfer unit and a substrate. An electric charge discharging signal and an electric charge transfer signal are periodically output, respectively. Due to the electric charge discharging signal, unwanted charge accumulated in the photo-diodes is discharged to the substrate. A distance measuring light beam is radiated on a measurement subject, and a reflected light beam from the measurement subject is sensed by the CCD, so that electric charge, corresponding to distance information from the device to the measurement subject, is accumulated in the photo-diodes. The electric charge is transferred to a vertical transfer unit due to the electric charge transfer signal. By starting an output of the electric charge transfer signal at the same time as the end of the output of the electric charge discharging signal, electric charge accumulated in the photo-diodes in the transfer operation is sensed to correct the distance information obtained by the CCD.