Solid-state area imaging apparatus

• US 4,566,037 A
• Filed: 12/20/1982
• Issued: 01/21/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Kogaku KK (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawahara, Atsushi, Isogai, Masaki, Takatsu, Norihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lev, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US06/451,599
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 358/213, 358/44, 358/212, 357/24 LR, 250/528
• US Class Current: 348/321
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14831 Area CCD imagers

Abstract

There is disclosed a solid-state area imaging apparatus suitable for photographing a still picture. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vertical transfer electrodes and a pair of horizontal read CCDs, and the vertical transfer electrodes are vertically continuously arranged such that each electrode alternately crosses vertically adjoining two of a plurality of imaginary horizontal scanning lines thereby providing a plurality of photosensitive elements distributed in a checkered pattern on the imaging surface of the apparatus. This distribution of the photosensitive elements has the effect of applying the video signal to all the horizontal scanning lines. Thus, by using the existing integrated circuit technique, it is possible to realize a solid-state area imaging apparatus whose vertical resolution of reproduced still pictures is two times the vertical resolution obtained previously.

Claims

1. A solid-state area imaging apparatus for producing a still picture signal, said apparatus being provided on an electronic still camera, comprising:

(a) photosensitive means including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for storing electric charges in accordance with the intensity of light impinging thereupon, said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being so arranged as to form a plurality of parallel lines on a predetermined area in a predetermined direction and being divided into a first group and a second group, such that the photoelectric conversion elements of said first group are arranged apart from one another in a checkered pattern with one or more photoelectric conversion elements of said second group being disposed therebetween;

(b) first transfer means for transferring a first plurality of electric charges in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction, said first plurality of electric charges being previously stored in said first group of photoelectric conversion elements; and

(c) second transfer means for transferring a second plurality of electric charges in said direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction, said second plurality of electric charges being previously stored in said second group of photoelectric conversion elements wherein said first transfer means extend linearly in said predetermined direction and comprise a plurality of electrodes, each of said electrodes having a plurality of projections extending therefrom at regular intervals, said projections extending alternatingly in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction and in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of projections of each electrode are arranged such that each projection contacts a corresponding one of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which store said first plurality of electric charges.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when either of said first and second transfer means transfers electric charges, the other of said first and second transfer means stops transferring electric charges.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first group of photoelectric conversion elements comprises:

a first subgroup of photoelectric conversion elements disposed at odd numbered positions along a first line; and

a second subgroup of photoelectric conversion elements disposed at even numbered positions along a second line,

wherein said numbered positions are determined by counting the number of regular intervals from a reference line lying perpendicular to said predetermined direction.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a first charge coupled device for reading out electric changes in said predetermined direction, said electric charges being those transferred by said first or second transfer means from said photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the odd numbered lines of said plurality of lines which are counted out in the direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction; and

a second charge coupled device for reading out electric charges in said predetermined direction, said electric charges being those transferred by said first or second transfer means from said photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the even numbered lines of said plurality of lines which are counted out in the direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction.

6. A solid-state area imaging apparatus for producing a still picture signal, said apparatus being provided on an electronic still camera, comprising:

(a) photosensitive means including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for storing electric charges in accordance with the intensity of light impinging thereupon, said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being so arranged as to form a plurality of parallel lines on a predetermined area in a predetermined direction and being divided into a first group and a second group, such that the photoelectric conversion elements of said first group are arranged apart from one another in a checkered pattern with one or more photoelectric conversion elements of said second group being disposed therebetween;

(b) first transfer means for transferring a first plurality of electric charges in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction, said first plurality of electric charges being previously stored in said first group of photoelectric conversion elements; and

(c) second transfer means for transferring a second plurality of electric charges in said direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction, said second plurality of electric charges being previously stored in said second group of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein said second transfer means extend linearly in said predetermined direction and comprise a plurality of electrodes, each of said electrodes having a plurality of projections extending therefrom at regular intervals, said projections extending alternatingly in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction and in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of projections of each electrode are arranged such that each projection contacts a corresponding one of said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which store said second plurality of electric charges.