Solid state image sensor

• US 4,556,908 A
• Filed: 12/28/1982
• Issued: 12/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ida, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lev, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US06/454,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 358/213, 358/212, 358/228, 358/221, 358/227, 358/211, 358/906, 356/219
• US Class Current: 348/302
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/42 by switching between different modes of operation using different resolutions or aspect ratios, e.g. switching between interlaced and non-interlaced mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/767 Horizontal readout lines, multiplexers or registers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/779 Circuitry for scanning or addressing the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/7795 Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals

Abstract

A solid state image sensor comprises an image sensing matrix comprised of a number of photoelectric elements arranged in a matrix array and a scanning circuit for two-dimensionally scanning the image sensing matrix by scanning signals to extract image signals. Picture element selection circuits are connected to horizontal and vertical lines of the image sensing matrix to pick up the output signals of photoelectric elements as photometric signals.

Claims

1. A solid state image sensing apparatus comprising:

a solid state image sensing means including a plurality of photoelectric elements two-dimensionally disposed in an imaging plane, said photoelectric elements being capable of issuing a signal charge corresponding to the quantity of incident light thereon when the respective photoelectric elements are selected to issue an output;

first selecting means for sequentially selecting respective ones of said photoelectric elements so as to pickup the signal charge from said selected photoelectric elements in sequence in a first operating mode;

second selecting means for selecting a plurality of specified photoelectric elements from said photoelectric elements so as to pickup the signal charge therefrom simultaneously in a second operating mode; and

mode changing means for selectively supplying a mode selection signal to said first and second selecting means so as to carry out the operating mode selection.

2. The solid state image sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first selecting means comprises horizontal scanning means and vertical scanning means, both of said horizontal and vertical scanning means cooperatively selecting said selected photoelectric elements in sequence in said first operating mode so as to obtain an image signal.

3. The solid state image sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second selecting means comprises horizontal position selecting means and vertical position selecting means, both of said horizontal and vertical position selecting means cooperatively selecting said specified photoelectric elements simultaneously in said second operating mode so as to obtain a photometric signal.

4. The solid state image sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

first output circuit means coupled to said image sensing means for issuing an image signal in said first operating mode;

second output circuit means coupled to said image sensing means for issuing a photometric signal in said second operating mode; and

control circuit means for selectively enabling said first output circuit means or said second output circuit means.

5. The solid state image sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of said horizontal scanning means and said vertical scanning means comprises a shift register and a plurality of tri-state buffers coupled to said shift register.

6. The solid state image sensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of said horizontal position selecting means and vertical position selecting means comprises a plurality of tri-state buffers.