MOS sensor and drive method thereof

• US 20070268389A1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hajime Kimura
• Original Assignee: Hajime Kimura
• Inventors: Kimura, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/30 for generating image signals from X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/58 involving two or more exposures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

To provide a drive method for finding out an optimum storage period quickly. In the method for driving the MOS sensor having a plurality of pixels, after all the plurality of pixels are simultaneously reset, signals are then sequentially outputted from said plurality of pixels. The period from the reset time to the time just before said plurality of pixels output saturated signals is termed as the storage period.

Claims

1. A driving method of a MOS sensor having a plurality of pixels in an image pick up unit, comprising the steps of:

imaging a first object on trial by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels at a same time; and

sequentially selecting at least a part of said plurality of pixels to output signals of the selected pixels;

determining a storage period in accordance with a period from the time of said resetting to a time when the signal of the selected pixels saturate; and

imaging a second object by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially; and

selecting said plurality of pixels sequentially after said storage period has passed since resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein a value of said storage period is set by irradiating said image pick up unit with light having a highest intensity among lights which have been reflected by an object to enter said image pick up unit.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the signals are outputted exclusively from those of the plurality of pixels of said image pick up unit that belong to a limited area.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the image of an object is picked up by using said storage period.

17. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first object and the second object are the same.

2. A driving method of a MOS sensor having a plurality of pixels in an image pick up unit, comprising the steps of:

imaging a first object on trial by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels at a same time; and

sequentially selecting a part of the plurality of pixels to output signals of the selected pixels;

determining a storage period in accordance with a period from the time of said resetting to a time when one of the signals of the selected pixels saturates; and

imaging a second object by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially; and

selecting said plurality of pixels sequentially after said storage period has passed since resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially;

wherein said one of the signals has a largest signal amplitude among the signals of the selected pixels.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein a value of said storage period is set by irradiating said image pick up unit with light having a highest intensity among lights which have been reflected by an object to enter said image pick up unit.

10. The method according to claim 2 wherein the signals are outputted exclusively from those of the plurality of pixels of said image pick up unit that belong to a limited area.

14. The method according to claim 2 wherein the image of an object is picked up by using said storage period.

18. The method according to claim 2 wherein the first object and the second object are the same.

3. A driving method of a MOS sensor having a plurality of pixels in an image pick up unit wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a photoelectric conversion element, the method comprising the steps of:

imaging a first object on trial by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels at a same time; and

sequentially selecting the plurality of pixels to output signals of the selected pixels;

determining a storage period in accordance with a period from the time of said resetting to a time when photoelectric conversion elements of the selected pixels saturate; and

imaging a second object by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially; and

selecting said plurality of pixels sequentially after said storage period has passed since resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially.

7. The method according to claim 3 wherein a value of said storage period is set by irradiating said image pick up unit with light having a highest intensity among lights which have been reflected by an object to enter said image pick up unit.

11. The method according to claim 3 wherein the signals are outputted exclusively from those of the plurality of pixels of said image pick up unit that belong to a limited area.

15. The method according to claim 3 wherein the image of an object is picked up by using said storage period.

19. The method according to claim 3 wherein the first object and the second object are the same.

4. A driving method of a MOS sensor having a plurality of pixels in an image pick up unit wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a photoelectric conversion element, the method comprising the steps of:

imaging a first object on trial by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting a part of said plurality of pixels at a same time; and

sequentially selecting the plurality of pixels to output signals of the selected pixels;

determining a storage period in accordance with a period from the time of said resetting to a time when any one of photoelectric conversion elements of the selected pixels saturates; and

imaging a second object by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially; and

selecting said plurality of pixels sequentially after said storage period has passed since resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially.

8. The method according to claim 4 wherein a value of said storage period is set by irradiating said image pick up unit with light having a highest intensity among lights which have been reflected by an object to enter said image pick up unit.

12. The method according to claim 4 wherein the signals are outputted exclusively from those of the plurality of pixels of said image pick up unit that belong to a limited area.

16. The method according to claim 4 wherein the image of an object is picked up by using said storage period.

20. The method according to claim 4 wherein the first object and the second object are the same.

21. A driving method of a MOS sensor having a plurality of pixels in an image pick up unit, comprising the steps of:

imaging a first object on trial by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels at a same time; and

sequentially selecting a part of said plurality of pixels to output signals of the selected pixels;

determining a storage period in accordance with a period from the time of said resetting to a time when the signal of the selected pixels saturates; and

imaging a second object by a process comprising the steps of;

resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially; and

selecting said plurality of pixels sequentially after said storage period has passed since resetting said plurality of pixels sequentially.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein a value of said storage period is set by irradiating said image pick up unit with light having a highest intensity among lights which have been reflected by an object to enter said image pick up unit.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein the signals are outputted exclusively from those of the plurality of pixels of said image pick up unit that belong to a limited area.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the image of an object is picked up by using said storage period.

25. The method according to claim 21 wherein the first object and the second object are the same.