초록 ▼

An electronic still camera uses a charge coupled solid-state image pickup device and reads out pixel signals from photoelectric conversion elements by separating the photoelectric conversion elements into a number of fields. In a first embodiment, the elements are separated into k number of fields a

An electronic still camera uses a charge coupled solid-state image pickup device and reads out pixel signals from photoelectric conversion elements by separating the photoelectric conversion elements into a number of fields. In a first embodiment, the elements are separated into k number of fields and an empty reading operation of the vertical and horizontal charge transfer paths are implemented without field shifting pixel signals from the elements to the transfer paths to thereby preserve the pixel signals in the elements. Accordingly, smear contents are removed and the influence of dark current is made uniform to prevent the occurrence of flicker. In a second embodiment, an empty reading operation of the vertical and horizontal charge transfer paths is implemented just after exposure. After the empty reading operation, normal field scanning and reading operation is restarted from the pixel signals corresponding to the field where the field shifting operation is stopped. Accordingly, smear contents are removed and dark current is made uniform.

대표청구항 ▼

An imaging apparatus comprising: imaging means, for generating pixel signals, including a matrix of photodiode elements of a plurality of rows and columns grouped in fields, a horizontal charge transfer line, and a plurality of vertical charge transfer lines, equal in number to said plurality of col

An imaging apparatus comprising: imaging means, for generating pixel signals, including a matrix of photodiode elements of a plurality of rows and columns grouped in fields, a horizontal charge transfer line, and a plurality of vertical charge transfer lines, equal in number to said plurality of columns, coupled to said photodiode elements and transferring said pixel signals to said horizontal charge transfer line; imaging drive means, coupled to said imaging means, for generating field shift synchronizing signals which control transfer operation of said pixel signals from said photodiode elements within said imaging means; and system control means, coupled to said imaging drive means and a shutter release detection means, for controlling said imaging drive means to begin field shift operation upon receipt of a shutter release signal from said shutter release detection means, said system control means further generating a masking signal of a predetermined period synchronized with a start of said field shift operation to prevent shifting of said pixel signals from said photodiode elements to said vertical charge transfer lines so that only residual charges are read out from said vertical and horizontal charge transfer lines during an empty reading period to prevent the occurrence of smear, said predetermined period of said masking signal selected so that equal amount of generated dark current are uniformly mixed with said pixel signals of each respective field.