JPH01165272A - Device for driving solid-state image pickup element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make accurate exposure time and exposure timing recognizable by detecting the timing at which transfer of electric charges from the photosensitive section of a solid-state image pickup element to a vertical transfer section is completed and generating monitor pulses. CONSTITUTION:When an exposure starting instruction is given, signals PSG1 are generated and, when an exposure terminating instruction is given, signals PSG2 are generated. By means of the signals PSG1 and PSG2 exposure starting and exposure terminating operations are performed. During exposure operations, a PSG1 fall detecting circuit 27 and PSG2 fall detecting circuit 28 respectively detects falls of the signals PSG1 and PSG2. In accordance with the detect results of the circuits 27 and 28, a monitor pulse generating circuit 29 outputs monitor pulses for the period from the fall of the signals PSG1 to the fall of the signals PSG2. Since the monitor pulses rise simultaneously to the exposure start and fall simultaneously to the exposure termination, the pulses accurately indicate the actual exposure time and exposure timing. Therefore, the actual exposure time and exposure timing can be recognized accurately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging element drive 1PII device, and more specifically, to a solid-state imaging device that can accurately know the actual exposure time. Regarding a drive device.

(Contradiction of the Invention) In recent years, still video cameras that combine a solid-state image carrier such as a COD and a recording device have been put into practical use.

Unlike conventional film cameras, such still video cameras do not require development or printing processes. Moreover, it has the advantage that the nine-dimensional image can be checked on a television monitor or the like.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the structure of interline COD. Although the figure shows only one row of photosensitive sections and vertical transfer sections, in an actual device, a plurality of rows are provided. In the figure, 1 is a solid-state image carrier, 2 is a photosensitive part that generates charges according to the brightness of the subject, 3 is a gate that outputs the charges generated in the photosensitive part, and 4 is a temporary transfer of the charges of photosensitive part 2. A vertical transfer section 5 stores charges in the vertical transfer section 4 and transfers them in the vertical direction using a transfer pulse given from the outside.A horizontal section 5 temporarily stores charges in the vertical transfer section 4, shifts the charges horizontally using a shift pulse, and outputs the shifted charges as an image signal. This is the transfer section.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing transfer pulses during shutter operation. A transfer pulse generation circuit (not shown) generates transfer pulses from φV1 to φV4, and applies these transfer pulses directly to the vertical transfer section 4 to perform transfer from the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section 4 and vertical transfer. Transfer from section 4 to return drain or horizontal transfer section 5 is performed. Actually, the charge transfer from the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section 4 is φV1 and φV3.
The transfer from the vertical transfer unit 4 to the sweep drain or the horizontal transfer unit 5 is performed using φV1 to φV4. Transfer pulses φv1 and φV3 (.

Pulse Ps with amplitude up to H level among M and L levels
tz l and P5 ((2 is the pulse that makes gate 3 conductive.

The shutter operation will be explained using this timing chart. The first pulse Ps@t of the transfer pulses φ■1 and φV3 transfers the charge that had been generated in the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section 4, and the high speed of the vertical transfer pulses φ■1 to φ■4 The transfer signal is used to perform reverse transfer at high speed, and the charges in the vertical transfer section 4 are discharged and discarded to the drain. The photosensitive section 2 generates new charges depending on the brightness of the subject. The generated charge is transferred to the transfer pulse φ■1. Second pulse Ps of φv3
4z, the image is transferred from the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section 4. Then, the charge in the vertical transfer section 4 is now transferred to the vertical transfer transfer pulse φv
The data is transferred to the horizontal transfer section 5 by steps 1 to φ■4. The charges in the horizontal transfer section 5 are sequentially read out as image output by a shift clock. The above operation enables high-speed shutter operation. That is, the transfer pulse φV1. The charge in the photosensitive section 2 is discarded by the first pulse Ps c, 1 of φV3, and the charge generated within a short period of time is transferred to the vertical transfer section 4 by the second pulse Psi2. , high-speed shutter operation (electronic shutter operation) is possible.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the above exposure operation, Ps 4 is
t is created, Psc2 is created by the instruction to end the exposure, and this Ps? 1 and Ps (, 2), the exposure start operation and the exposure end operation are performed.

However, during this period of Ps4+, the unnecessary charge existing in the photosensitive section 2 continues to be transferred to the vertical transfer section 4 via the gate 3, so the actual exposure starts at the falling edge of Psl. , Ps z, charges generated by exposure continue to be transferred from the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section 4 via the gate 3, so that the actual exposure ends at the falling edge of Ps &2.

As described above, the actual exposure starts later by the pulse width of Psqt compared to the instruction to start and end the exposure, and the actual exposure starts later by the pulse width of Psqt.
, z ends later than the pulse width. However, in order to move the charges during these Ps@ and Psc2 pulses, the pulse width cannot be made too small. Furthermore, since exposure 1IilIIIN may be performed by changing the falling timing of Psc(z), the actual exposure period may change further.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a solid-state image element driving device that can accurately determine the actual exposure time and exposure timing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention for solving the above problems includes a photosensitive section, a vertical transfer section for vertically transferring charges generated in the photosensitive section, and a vertical transfer section for transferring charges generated in the photosensitive section in the vertical direction. A drive device for driving a solid-state image sensor, which includes a horizontal transfer section that transfers the charge in the horizontal direction, includes an exposure start means that transfers the charge existing in the photosensitive section at the start of exposure to the vertical transfer section, and a predetermined exposure time. an exposure terminating means for terminating the exposure by moving the charges generated in the photosensitive section to the vertical transfer section; and a first means for detecting that the transfer of the charge from the photosensitive section to the vertical transfer section is completed at the start of exposure. a detection means, a second detection means for detecting completion of charge transfer from the photosensitive section to the vertical transfer section at the end of exposure; The present invention is characterized by comprising a monitor pulse generating means for generating a monitor pulse for a period up to the time when the completion of charge movement is detected by the second detecting means.

(Function) The time when the charge existing in the photosensitive area before the start of exposure has been transferred to the vertical transfer section and the time when the charge generated in the photosensitive area due to exposure has finished being transferred to the vertical transfer section are detected, and the pulses between these points are detected. create.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention together with a solid-state image carrier and the like. In the figure, 1 is a solid-state image carrier that performs photoelectric conversion, 2 is a photosensitive part of the solid-state image sensor 1, and 3 is a solid-state image sensor that performs photoelectric conversion.
4 is a gate that outputs the charge generated in the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section based on an externally applied pulse; 4 is a vertical transfer section that extracts the charge from the gate 3 and transfers it to the drain or horizontal transfer section; 5 is the vertical transfer section mentioned above; A horizontal transfer unit that transfers the charge from the transfer unit 4 in the horizontal direction and outputs the same; 6 is a solid-state MS element drive v4 unit that provides driving pulses to the solid-state image sensor 1;
7 is a signal processing circuit that processes the photoelectrically converted signal by the solid-state image sensor 1, converts it into a video signal, and outputs it; 8, a signal processing circuit that processes the signal given from the signal processing circuit 5 based on instructions from a system control circuit, which will be described later. Recording S to be recorded on a magnetic disk, etc. 9 is a system control circuit that gives various instructions to each part; 10 is a system control circuit 7;
11 is a photometry circuit that measures the exposure amount, 12 is an oscillator that generates a reference signal, 13 is a drive pulse generation circuit that creates a drive pulse from the reference signal, and 14 is a horizontal scanning frequency ( 15 is a frequency divider that creates a fH) signal; 15 is a V counter that creates a vertical scanning frequency (f■) signal by counting the fH times the signal;
16 is a shifter that creates a plurality of vertical synchronization signals with different phases from the fV signal; 17 is a decoder that creates a synchronization signal; 18 is an H shifter that creates a plurality of horizontal synchronization signals with different phases from the fH multiplied signal; 19 and 20 are I- for creating high-speed transfer (H8) signals for high-speed transfer of charges transferred from the reference signal to the vertical transfer section of the solid-state AM element 1, respectively.
IS shifter and l-IS counter, 21 are the above H8
This is an HS decoder for outputting signals. In addition, above 1
Terminals 4 to 18 denoted by R are terminals to which a reset signal is applied.

This reset signal is given when the shutter opens and closes, and due to the above reset operation,
8 outputs a synchronization signal having the same phase as the reset signal.

22 is a still mode shutter control circuit that generates a shutter control signal and the above-mentioned reset signal in order to control exposure based on a signal given from the system control circuit during the still mode;
23 is a video mode shutter control circuit that controls exposure in the video mode; 24 is a φ■ system decoder that creates solid-state image sensor driving signals φv1 to φ■4 based on the H8 signal, horizontal synchronization signal, and vertical synchronization signal;
25 is the horizontal synchronization signal mentioned above.

Based on the vertical synchronization signal and shutter control signal, the exposure start and end signals for the solid-state image sensor (φSG decoder that creates an SG multiplied signal; 36 amplifies the output signals of 24 and 25 above to generate a drive signal for the solid-state image sensor) as solid 1
A drive circuit for supplying lil image element 1, 27 is φSG
PS4 which detects the fall of the SG multiplied signal s4+ from the system decoder 25 is a falling detection circuit; 28 is a PS4 which detects the fall of the SG multiplied signal SG2 from the φSG system decoder 25.
2 falling detection circuit 29 is a monitor pulse output circuit which detects the detection results of the Psq+fall detection circuit 27 and PS(, 2 falling detection circuit 28) and outputs a monitor pulse.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart A during operation of the apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, (a) is a trigger signal given from the system control circuit 9 to the still mode shutter control circuit 22 to instruct exposure, and (b) to (e) are drives given from the drive circuit 26 to the solid-state image sensor 1. It is a pulse for use.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 28.

The system control circuit 9 supplies the still mode shutter control circuit 22 with a positive trigger signal for a predetermined exposure time from the time when the shutter button 10 is pressed as shown in FIG. 2(A). The still mode shutter control circuit 22 generates a reset signal according to the rising and falling timings of this signal, and outputs the reset signal to the frequency divider 14, Vjy counter 15. V shifter 16. The signal is applied to the H shifter 18 to execute a reset. By this reset operation, the vertical synchronizing signal and horizontal synchronizing signal output from the V shifter 16 and the H shifter 18 become synchronized with the rising and falling edges of the signals. φV system decoder 24
And the φSG system decoder 25 generates the driving pulses shown in FIG. do. This driving pulse is amplified by the drive circuit 26 and applied to the solid-state image sensor 1.

Among these driving pulses, P s (r!) generated by the φSG decoder 25 is a pulse for making the gate 3 conductive and transferring the unnecessary charges accumulated in the photosensitive area to the vertical transfer unit 4. This unnecessary charge is swept out from the vertical transfer section 4 to the drain by the 1-IS signal.

Furthermore, from the time when Pset falls, the photosensitive section 1 starts accumulating charges due to exposure.

Then, according to the timing of the falling trigger pulse,
The φSG decoder 25 generates P s C72. This Ps [phase] 2 makes the gate 3 conductive and transfers the charges stored in the photosensitive section 2 to the vertical transfer section 4 .

This charge is transferred to the horizontal transfer section 5 and output, converted into a video signal by the signal processing circuit 7, and recorded on the floppy disk of the recording circuit 8.

During the above exposure operation, the Ps e fall detection circuit 27 and the Ps62 fall detection circuit 28 each detect P'3ft1.
and detects the falling edge of PSQ2. Based on the above detection result, the monitor pulse output circuit 29 outputs a monitor pulse for the period from the fall of Ps6t to the fall of Ps(z) as shown in FIG. Since it rises at the same time as the start of n and falls at the same time as the end of exposure, it accurately indicates the actual exposure time and exposure timing.Therefore, it is also possible to perform various corrections using this monitor pulse.

Although the above embodiment has been described using an interline COD as a solid-state image sensor, the present invention is not limited to this, and the solid-state image sensor driving device of the present invention is a FIT.
-Can also be used for COD.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the present invention, accurate monitoring pulses are generated by detecting the timing at which the charge is finished being transferred from the photosensitive section of the solid-state microelectronic element to the vertical transfer section. It is possible to realize a solid-state image element driving device that can know the exposure time and exposure timing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the timing of operation of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of a solid-state 1liilIl element.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing drive pulses for driving the solid-state m* element. 1... Solid Wi elephant element 2... Photosensitive part 3...
・Gate 4...Vertical transfer section 5...Horizontal transfer section 6...Solid image removal element drive l! ll device 7...Signal processing circuit 8...Recording device 9...
・System control circuit 10...Shutter button 11...Photometering circuit 12
... Oscillator 13 ... Drive pulse generation circuit 14 ... Frequency divider 15 ... V counter 1
6...■Shifter 17...Decoder 18.
...H shifter 19...HS shifter 20...
・HS counter 21...HS decoder 22...
- Still mode shutter control circuit 23... Video mode shutter control circuit 24...φ
■System decoder 25...φSG system decoder 26...Drive circuit 27...Psqx fall detection circuit 28...Ps@z fall detection circuit 29...Monitor pulse output circuit Patent applicant: 2. stock association
Ceremony Clerk Patent attorney Fuji Ijima 1 person outside of the jurisdiction Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a driving device for driving a solid-state image sensor, which includes a photosensitive section, a vertical transfer section that transfers charges generated in the photosensitive section in the vertical direction, and a horizontal transfer section that transfers the charges from the vertical transfer section in the horizontal direction. , an exposure start means for moving the charges existing in the photosensitive area to the vertical transfer section at the start of exposure, and an exposure for terminating the exposure by moving the charges generated in the photosensitive area to the vertical transfer section after a predetermined exposure time. termination means,
a first detecting means for detecting completion of charge transfer from the photosensitive section to the vertical transfer section at the start of exposure; and a first detection means for detecting completion of charge transfer from the photosensitive section to the vertical transfer section at the end of exposure. and a monitor pulse for generating a monitor pulse for a period from the time when the first detection means detects the completion of the charge movement to the time when the second detection means detects the completion of the charge movement. What is claimed is: 1. A solid-state image sensor driving device, comprising a generating means.