Photo-electric converter with parallel connection elements and dual signal read out means

• US 5,663,555 A
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ueno, Isamu, Miyawaki, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/674,461
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/208.3, 250/214 LS, 250/205, 250/201.2, 348/307, 348/308, 348/302, 348/362, 354/402-409, 354/429-434, 354/266, 355/81, 356/221, 356/222, 356/218
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

An image information processing apparatus comprising a parallel connection circuit for parallelly connecting a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements, a combined signal read circuit for reading out a combined signal from the plurality of parallelly connected photo-electric conversion elements, an individual signal read circuit for reading out an independent individual signal of each of the plurality of photo-electric conversion elements, a photometry circuit connected to the combined signal read circuit and a distance measurement circuit connected to the individual signal read circuit.

Claims

1. An image information processing apparatus comprising:

parallel connection means for connecting a plurality of photo-electric conversion elements in parallel;

signal read out means for reading out a signal formed by integrating signals of the plurality of photo-electric conversion elements which are connected in parallel;

individual signal read means for independently reading out a signal of each of the plurality of photo-electric conversion elements;

mode selecting means for selecting a light measurement mode, an image processing mode, and a reset mode; and

control means for measuring brightness of an object based on an output of said signal read out means when said mode selecting means selects said light measuring mode, for processing an output of said individual signal read means when said mode selecting means selects said image processing mode and for resetting said plurality of photo-electric conversion elements by connecting said parallel connection means to a predetermined reset voltage.

2. An image pickup device comprising:

(a) a plurality of photoconversion elements each having a transistor to amplify a photoconversion signal, wherein said transistor includes a control electrode and a plurality of main electrodes;

(b) a shift register for sequentially reading out individual photoconversion signals from said plurality of photoconversion elements through respective one of said main electrodes to a sequential output line;

(c) a common connection line for selectively connecting a plurality of control electrodes of said transistors;

(d) reset means for resetting said plurality of photoconversion elements by connecting said common connection line to a predetermined voltage;

(e) a first output amplifier for sequentially amplifying said individual photoconversion signal read out through said sequential output line; and

(f) a second output amplifier for deriving an output signal from said common connection line when said common connection line is not connected to said predetermined voltage.

3. An image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein said transistor includes a bipolar transistor.

4. An image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein said common connection line includes a plurality of switching elements for selectively connecting control electrodes of adjacent transistors.

5. An image pickup device according to claim 2, further comprising a process means for processing an output signal from said first output amplifier.

6. An image pickup device according to claim 5, wherein said processing means includes a distance measuring circuit for obtaining a distance information based on said output signal from said first output amplifier.

7. An image pickup device according to claim 2, further comprising a light metering circuit for metering brightness of an object based on an output signal from said second output amplifier.

8. An image pickup device comprising:

(a) a plurality of photoconversion elements;

(b) a first output means for sequentially reading out individual photoconversion signals from said plurality of photoconversion elements;

(c) a common connection line for selectively connecting said plurality of photoconversion elements;

(d) reset means for resetting said plurality of photoconversion elements by connecting said common connection line to a predetermined voltage;

(e) a second output means for deriving an output signal for said common connection line when said common connection line is not connected to said predetermined voltage.

9. An image pickup device according to claim 8, wherein each said photoconversion element includes a transistor for amplifying a photoconversion signal.

10. An image pickup device according to claim 9, wherein said transistor includes a bipolar transistor.

11. An image pickup device according to claim 10, wherein said common connection line includes a plurality of switching elements for selectively connecting control electrodes of adjacent transistors.

12. An image pickup device according to claim 8, further comprising a processing means for processing an output signal from said first output means.

13. An image pickup device according to claim 12, wherein said processing means includes a distance measuring circuit for obtaining distance information based on said output signal from said first output means.

14. An image pickup device according to claim 8, further comprising a light metering circuit for metering brightness of an object based on an output signal from said second output means.