JPS63227281A - Solid-state image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output the signal of a photodiode independently without mixing, by preparing pulse generating parts, line address parts, accumulation parts, horizontal transfer parts, and output parts for the signal of the photodiode on an odd row and that of the photodiode on an even row separately. CONSTITUTION:The signal charge of the photodiode 1 on first row is read out by an odd readout shift register 8 in one horizontal period, and the signal of the photodiode 1 on second row is read out by an even readout shift register 10. Afterwards, the signal on the first row is transferred to the accumulation part 17 of an odd number by an odd transfer shift register 7, and the signal on the second row is transferred to the accumulation part 14 of an even number by an even transfer shift register 9. Afterwards, the horizontal transfer of the signals are performed by the horizontal transfer part 15 of the odd number and the horizontal transfer part 12 of the even number respectively, and the signals are outputted simultaneously by the output part 16 of the odd number and the output part 13 of the even number. In such a way, it is possible to read out the signal charge of the photodiode of two rows independently in one horizontal period.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device that can be used in an imaging part of a video camera or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, solid-state imaging devices have largely replaced imaging tubes in the consumer field as imaging elements for video cameras.

Image sensors include MOS type, CCD type, etc., among which interline transfer type COD (hereinafter IT-COD)
) is superior in terms of low noise and low smear, and is the one that is most advanced in practical use.

This will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional solid-state imaging device. In FIG. 2, 1 is a photodiode that performs photoelectric conversion, 3 is a vertical transfer section that vertically transfers signal charges generated in the photodiode 1, 18 is a horizontal transfer section, and 19 is an output section.

The operation of the conventional solid-state imaging device configured as described above will be described below.

First, signal charges photoelectrically converted by the photodiode 1 are read out to the vertical transfer section 3 and transferred in the vertical direction. Next, the signal charges are transferred to the horizontal transfer section 18, transferred in the horizontal direction, and sequentially outputted from the output section 19.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in order to realize the above configuration agreed with the TV signal with the current wafer processing technology, the number of each element must be approximately SOO per vertical transfer of 1 photodiode. Only about 250 stages can be configured. Therefore, the signal charges read out by the photodiode 1 must be transferred after mixing adjacent signal charges in the vertical transfer section 3. Therefore, although the photodiode section has a high resolution in the vertical direction, it has the disadvantage that it deteriorates due to mixing in the vertical transfer section 3. In view of the above drawbacks, the present invention provides a solid-state imaging device that can output signals from photodiodes independently without mixing them.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes a two-dimensionally arranged light receiving section, a readout gate, a vertical transfer section, and a first... The first pulse generates the second pulse. a second pulse generator, a first pulse generator; a second line address section; a first line address section; a second storage section; a first storage section; a second horizontal transfer section and a first horizontal transfer section;
and a second output section.

Operation With this configuration, a pulse generation section and a line address section are provided for the signals of the photodiodes in odd-numbered rows and the signals of the photodiodes in even-numbered rows, respectively.

By separating the storage section, horizontal transfer section, and output section, signal charges in adjacent rows can be read out independently without mixing them.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a photodiode that performs photoelectric conversion, 2 is a readout gate section that reads out the signal from photodiode 1, 3 is a vertical transfer section that transfers signal charges in the vertical direction, 4 is a vertical transfer gate that controls charge transfer, and 6 is a readout section. A readout pulse transmission line connects the gates, 6 is a transfer pulse transmission line that connects the vertical transfer gates, 7 is an odd transfer shift register that transfers the signals of the odd rows, and 8 reads out the signals of the photodiodes of the odd rows row by row. 9 is an even number transfer shift register that transfers signals from even rows; 10 is a shift register that reads signals from photodiodes on even rows; 12 is a horizontal transfer section for signals from photodiodes on even rows; 13 is an even number 14 is an accumulation section for the signals of the 7 photodiodes in the even-numbered rows, 16 is a horizontal transfer section for the signals from the photodiodes in the odd-numbered rows, and 16 is an output section for the signals from the photodiodes in the odd-numbered rows. , 17 is a storage section for the signals of the odd-numbered photodiodes.

The operation of the solid-state imaging device configured as described above will be described below. First, the signal charges of the photodiodes in the first row are read out by the odd readout shift register 8 during one horizontal period. Next, the signals of the photodiodes in the second row are read out using the even number readout shift register 1o. then 1
The signal in the row is transferred by the odd number transfer shift register 7 toward the odd number storage section 17, and the signal in the second row is transferred by the even number transfer shift register 9 toward the even number storage section 14. Thereafter, horizontal transfer is performed by the odd-numbered horizontal transfer units 16 and even-numbered horizontal transfer units 12, respectively, and the odd-numbered output units 16. Even outputs 13 are output simultaneously. During the next horizontal period, the signals on the third and fourth rows are read out in the same way. Similarly, the 6th and 6th rows, the 7th and 8th rows, the 9th and 10th rows, etc. are sequentially read and transferred.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the signal charges of the seven otodiodes for two rows can be read out independently during one horizontal period.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention can read out the signals of the photodiodes without mixing them and can increase the resolution in the vertical direction, and has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional solid-state imaging device. 1...Photodiode, 2...Reading gate, 3...Vertical transfer section, 4...
・Vertical transfer gate, 6... Read pulse transmission line, 6... Transfer pulse transmission line, 7...
Odd number transfer shift register, 8...Odd number read shift register, 9...Even number transfer shift register, 10...Even number read shift register, 1
2...Even horizontal transfer section, 1.3...
Even number output section, 14...Even number storage section, 16.
...odd horizontal transfer section, 16...odd output section, 17...odd storage section, 18...
...Horizontal transfer section, 19...Output section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A light-receiving section in which light-receiving elements are arranged in a two-dimensional manner, a readout gate section that reads out signal charges generated in the light-receiving elements, a vertical transfer section that transfers the signal charges in a vertical direction, and the vertical transfer section a pulse generating section that generates first and second pulses that transfer a plurality of charges in different directions; a line address section that drives a plurality of rows of the read gate section during one cycle; first and second storage sections that accumulate the signal charges of the light receiving elements of the rows; first and second horizontal transfer sections that horizontally transfer the signal charges of the light receiving elements of the odd and even rows; 1. A solid-state imaging device comprising: 1. a second output section; (2) The operation cycle of the output pulse of the pulse generator is 1
2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the solid-state imaging device makes one round in a horizontal period. (3) The signal charge read out by the first row selection pulse of the plurality of row selection pulses in the line address section is transferred to the first storage section, the first horizontal transfer section, and the first output section in this order, and The signal charge read out with the row selection pulse is transferred to the second storage section and the second storage section.
2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the image is transferred to the horizontal transfer unit and the second output unit in this order.