Image sensor with improved response characteristics
First Claim
1. An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of arrays of charge accumulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependent upon the intensity of light impinging thereon;
(b) a plurality of charge accumulation time control means, one control means provided for each of said arrays for producing a charge accumulation time control signal for the corresponding array, respectively;
(c) a plurality of buffer memory means, one buffer memory means provided for each of said arrays for temporarily storing the accumulated charges shifted from said sensor elements of the corresponding array in response to said charge accumulation time control signal of the charge accumulation time control means corresponding to the corresponding array;
(d) charge accumulation end detecting means for detecting the generation of all of the charge accumulation time control signals by all of the plurality of charge accumulation time control means for producing a shift signal thereupon; and
(e) serial outputting means for receiving said accumulated charges from said plurality of buffer memory means in response to said shift signal and for serially outputting signals representing said accumulated charges.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object includes a plurality of image sensor arrays. Each array comprises photoelectric converting elements arranged to receive the object image and accumulation cells coupled to each photoelectric converting element for accumulating charges produced from the photoelectric converting element. A buffer memory cells are coupled respectively to the accumulation cells for temporarily storing the accumulated charges shifted from the accumulation cells in response to the completion of the charge accumulation in each array. A shift register is provided to receive accumulated charges from the buffer memory cells in every one of the arrays after all the arrays complete the charge accumulation. The accumulated charges stored in the shift register are then sequentially outputted.
236 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arrays of charge accumulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependent upon the intensity of light impinging thereon; (b) a plurality of charge accumulation time control means, one control means provided for each of said arrays for producing a charge accumulation time control signal for the corresponding array, respectively; (c) a plurality of buffer memory means, one buffer memory means provided for each of said arrays for temporarily storing the accumulated charges shifted from said sensor elements of the corresponding array in response to said charge accumulation time control signal of the charge accumulation time control means corresponding to the corresponding array; (d) charge accumulation end detecting means for detecting the generation of all of the charge accumulation time control signals by all of the plurality of charge accumulation time control means for producing a shift signal thereupon; and (e) serial outputting means for receiving said accumulated charges from said plurality of buffer memory means in response to said shift signal and for serially outputting signals representing said accumulated charges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8)
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4. An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arrays of charge accumulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependent upon the intensity of light impinging thereon; (b) a plurality of monitor sensor means, each monitor sensor means provided adjacent one of said arrays for producing a monitor output signal varying at a speed dependent on the brightness of said image impinging on each of said arrays, respectively; (c) reference signal producing means for producing at least one reference signal; (d) comparing means for comparing each of said monitor output signals from each of said monitor sensor means with said reference signal; and (e) a plurality of accumulation time control means, each provided corresponding to each of said arrays, respectively, for producing a charge accumulation time control signal in accordance with a result of the comparison carried out with respect to the monitor output signal from the monitor sensor means provided adjacent to the corresponding array and the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arrays of charge accumulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependent upon the intensity of light impinging thereon; (b) charge accumulation time control means for independently controlling the charge accumulation time of each of said arrays; (c) a plurality of memory means, each memory means provided to correspond to one of said arrays, respectively, for temporarily storing the accumulated charge signals shifted from said sensor elements of the corresponding array in response to said charge accumulation time control signal of the charge accumulation time control means corresponding to the corresponding array, and (d) means for receiving and storing said accumulated charges from the plurality of buffer memory means at a predetermined moment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An image sensor for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arrays of charge accumulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependent upon the intensity of light impinging thereon; (b) charge accumulation time control means for independently controlling the charge accumulation time of each of said arrays; (c) covering means provided in each of said arrays for optically coverign a predetermined number of sensor elements thereof located at a leading end portion of said array so that charges are accumulated for said covered sensor elments under a dark condition; and (d) means for sequentially producing charge signals representing the accumulated charges from said plurality of arrays. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of image sensor arrays of charge accumulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependednt upon the intensity of light impinging thereon; (b) a plurality of monitor sensor means, each provided adjacent one of said arrays for producing a monitor output signal varying at a speed dependent on the brightness of said image impinging on each of said arrays, respectively; (c) means for sequentially producing charge signals representing the accumulate charges from said plurality of arrays; (d) amplifier means for amplifying said charge signals; and gain control means for controlling the gain of said amplifier means in accordance with said monitor output signals, so that charge signals from the respective arrays sequentially produced are amplified by said amplifying means at gains dependent on the brightness of said image impinging on the respective arrays.
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14. An image sensor system for sensing an image of an object, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of arrays of charge acucmulation type sensor elements, each arranged to receive said object image and capable of accumulating an electric charge at a speed dependent upon the intensity of light impinging thereon; charge accumulation starting means for simultaneously starting the charge accumulation of all of said arrays; charge accumulation terminating means for terminating all of the charge accumulation of said plurality of arrays independently of each other, and (d) serial outputting means for serially outputting a plurality of accumulated charges in said plurality of arrays to the outside of the image sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification