Solid-state image pickup device with discharge gate operable in an arbitrary timing
First Claim
1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising a plurality of light receiving sections formed on a semiconductor substrate, at least one vertical transfer section for transferring charges read from the light receiving sections in a vertical direction and a horizontal transfer section for transferring charges transferred by the vertical transfer section in a horizontal direction, whereinsaid solid-state image pickup device is provided with a charge discharge gate which is formed adjacent to a connection of each vertical transfer section and the horizontal transfer section and depletes charges in each vertical transfer section and a charge discharge drain formed adjacent to each charge discharge gate, andsignal charges in the vertical transfer section are discharged from each charge discharge gate to each charge discharge drain by simultaneously applying voltages having high-low voltage ratios corresponding to decimation ratios to the charge discharge gates for performing an arbitrary decimation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solid-state image pickup device has a discharge gate and a discharge drain provided adjacent to a connection of a vertical CCD and a horizontal CCD so that charges accumulated for an arbitrary pixel can be completely depleted. Data can be read at an arbitrary decimation rate only by changing a drive condition of the discharge gate. An arbitrary decimation rate can be achieved and a frame rate, resolution or the like can easily changed while vertical transfer electrodes can keep the same wiring structure as in a still mode (normal reading) without making a complicated wiring structure of vertical transfer electrodes such as the prior art. Therefore, this solid-state image pickup device can achieve an arbitrary decimation rate and easily change a frame rate, resolution or the like only by changing drive conditions without making a complicated wiring structure of vertical transfer electrodes.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising a plurality of light receiving sections formed on a semiconductor substrate, at least one vertical transfer section for transferring charges read from the light receiving sections in a vertical direction and a horizontal transfer section for transferring charges transferred by the vertical transfer section in a horizontal direction, wherein
said solid-state image pickup device is provided with a charge discharge gate which is formed adjacent to a connection of each vertical transfer section and the horizontal transfer section and depletes charges in each vertical transfer section and a charge discharge drain formed adjacent to each charge discharge gate, and signal charges in the vertical transfer section are discharged from each charge discharge gate to each charge discharge drain by simultaneously applying voltages having high-low voltage ratios corresponding to decimation ratios to the charge discharge gates for performing an arbitrary decimation.
Specification