High-definition still picture cameras having a solid-state imaging device with photoelectric conversion elements divided into four fields

• US 5,251,036 A
• Filed: 09/28/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Oda, Kazuya, Konishi, Masahiro, Kawaoka, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARBER, WENDY RAE
• Application Number:
  US07/952,667
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 358/213.28, 358/213.26, 358/213.23, 358/209, 358/213.11, 358/213.22, 358/44
• US Class Current: 348/311
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/53 Control of the integration time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/713 Transfer or readout registers; Split readout registers or multiple readout registers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/73 using interline transfer [IT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/745 Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals

Abstract

A high definition camera for photographing still pictures using a high resolution charge coupled solid-state imaging device. The imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns, wherein each column is divided into repeating sequences of four photoelectric elements, each element corresponding to a pixel and one of four fields. A plurality of vertical charge transfer paths are formed between each column of the photoelectric elements and a horizontal charge transfer path is connected to a terminal portion of each of the vertical charge transfer paths. The horizontal charge transfer path includes first and second horizontal registers. Pixel signals generated at photoelectric elements corresponding to one of four fields are transferred to transfer elements in a field shift period corresponding to the one field. Thereafter, the signals are transferred toward to the horizontal charge transfer path in accordance with drive signals and are then horizontally transferred by the horizontal charge transfer path at every row to read and store the signals for the one field. The signals of the four fields are stored in respective memory areas of a memory. In an embodiment, signals are read by every frame and the signals of two fields, corresponding to one of the first and second horizontal registers, are supplied to an electronic viewfinder for display. A still image of the displayed image is recorded in accordance with signals of four fields upon actuation of a shutter. In an additional embodiment, both of the horizontal registers are operable to output signals during a high resolution mode and only one of the horizontal registers are operable to output signals during a low resolution mode.

Claims

1. A still picture camera comprising:

solid-state imaging means for generating image signals of an image to be photographed including a plurality of columns of vertical repeating sequences of photoelectric conversion elements A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂, coupled through transfer gates to respective vertical transfer lines which are equal in number to said plurality of columns, said vertical transfer lines coupled to a horizontal charge transfer line which transfers and outputs individual pixel signals as said image signals corresponding to said photoelectric conversion elements which have passed through said transfer gates and said vertical transfer lines, in accordance with drive signals;

pre-processing means, coupled to said imaging means, for performing γ and

white balance correction operations and analog to digital conversion of said image signals to generate and output corrected image signals;

memory means for separately storing in four different memory areas said corrected image signals corresponding to specific ones of said pixel signals of said photoelectric conversion elements A₁ B₂, A₂, and B₂ as separated image signals A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂ ;

multiplexing means, coupled to said pre-processing means, for separating and outputting said corrected image signals as said separated image signals A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂ to said memory means;

viewfinder means, coupled to said multiplexing means, for generating video signals in accordance with said separated image signals A₁ and A₂ and for displaying said image to be photographed as a motion picture in accordance with said generated video signals; and

recording means, coupled to said memory means, for recording a still picture based upon said separated image signals A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂ stored in said memory means under control of a video control circuit and in response to activation of a shutter release to record the still picture of the image displayed on said viewfinder means.

2. The still picture camera of claim 1, said viewfinder means further comprising a digital to analog converter for converting said separated image signals A₁ and A₂ into analog signals during generation of said video signals.

3. The still picture camera of claim 1, said photoelectric conversion elements A₁ and A₂ corresponding to first and second fields respectively of a first frame and said photoelectric conversion elements B₁ and B₂ corresponding to first and second fields respectively of a second frame.

4. A still picture camera operable in a high or low resolution mode comprising:

solid-state imaging means for generating image signals of an image to be photographed including a plurality of columns of vertical repeating sequences of photoelectric conversion elements A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂, coupled through transfer gates to respective vertical transfer lines which are equal in number to said plurality of columns, said vertical transfer lines coupled to a horizontal charge transfer line comprised of first and second horizontal paths which transfer and output individual pixel signals as said image signals corresponding to said photoelectric conversion elements which have passed through said transfer gates and said vertical transfer lines, in accordance with drive signals, said photoelectric conversion elements A₁ and A₂ corresponding to first and second fields, respectively, of a first frame and said photoelectric conversion elements B₁ and B₂ corresponding to first and second fields, respectively of a second frame;

pre-processing means, coupled to said imaging means, for performing γ and

white balance correction operations of said image signals to generate and output corrected image signals;

memory means for separately storing in four different memory areas said corrected image signals corresponding to specific ones of said pixel signals of said photoelectric conversion elements A₁, B₁, A₂, and B₂ as separated image signals A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂ ;

switching means, coupled to said pre-processing means, for separating and outputting said corrected image signals as said separated image signals A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂ to said memory means;

viewfinder means, coupled to said pre-processing means, for generating video signals in accordance with said separated image signals A₁ and A₂ and for displaying said image to be photographed as a motion picture in accordance with said generated video signals; and

recording means, coupled to said memory means, for recording a still picture based upon said separated image signals A₁, B₁, A₂ and B₂ stored in said memory means under control of a video control circuit and in response to activation of a shutter release to record a still picture of the image displayed on said viewfinder means,

both of said first and second horizontal paths operable during the high resolution mode and only one of said first and second horizontal paths operable during the low resolution mode.

5. The still picture camera of claim 4, said first and second horizontal paths outputting separated image signals A₁ and B₁, respectively, during a first field scanning period and outputting separated image signals A₂ and B₂, respectively, during a second field scanning period.

6. The still picture camera of claim 5, said pre-processing means comprising a first processing circuit coupled to said first horizontal path for performing said correction operations on said separated image signals A₁ and A₂ and a second processing circuit coupled to said second horizontal path for performing said correction operations on said separated image signals B₁ and B₂.