JPH0537862A - Multi-method solid-state imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To acquire a video signal with various picture angles within a range of a valid picture angle from one image pickup section. CONSTITUTION:A 1st horizontal transfer section 404 receives all charges in the horizontal direction transferred through vertical sections from an image pickup section 401. A 2nd horizontal transfer section 405 receives a charge of a part of period receiving position adjustment in the horizontal direction at the 1st horizontal transfer section 404 and outputs the charge through the horizontal transfer. Thus, the length of the picture angle in the horizontal direction is set, Thus, a drain 408 discharges simultaneously the charge of the 1st and 2nd horizontal transfer sections 404,405 to set the length in the vertical direction of the picture angle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-method solid-state image pickup device capable of acquiring a video signal having an arbitrary angle of view.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Solid-state imaging devices using semiconductor technology have been developed. FIG. 4A shows a conventional solid-state imaging device in which a charge transfer stage is composed of a CCD (charge coupled device).

Normally, an effective angle of view is set in the image pickup portion of the solid-state image pickup device into which an optical image is introduced, and the other portion has an optical black portion which is not exposed to light. In the figure, the imaging unit 101 is shown in correspondence with the effective angle of view.
A large number of photosensitive sections 102 are two-dimensionally arranged in the image pickup section, and vertical transfer sections 103 are respectively formed between the columns. The effective angle of view is determined in accordance with the method such as NTSC, and the number of horizontal and vertical elements of the photosensitive section 102 is also determined in consideration of the method.

The charges photoelectrically converted in the photosensitive section 102 and accumulated for a certain period of time are simultaneously shifted to the vertical transfer section 103. In the vertical transfer unit 103, vertical transfer is performed line by line, and the transferred charges are transferred to the horizontal transfer units 104 and 1.
It is allotted to 05. Then, the horizontal transfer units 104 and 10
At 5, the charges are transferred horizontally and each is output amplifier 10
It is led out as a charge signal to the output terminals 108 and 109 via 6 and 107.

Normally, every time the horizontal transfer units 104 and 105 have transferred all the charges, the charges in the vertical transfer unit 103 are transferred once in a line unit. By repeating such an operation, the charges photoelectrically converted by the respective photosensitive units 102 are sequentially read, and the charges of all the effective angle of view of the image pickup unit 101 are taken out as a signal at regular intervals. In order to match this signal with a predetermined method, the structure of the solid-state image sensor and the drive pulse required for transfer are determined. The two purposes of the horizontal transfer units 104 and 105 are to improve resolution, improve color separation processing and color reproduction, and improve image quality such as non-interlace compatibility. In this configuration, the effective angle of view of the image pickup unit 101 is changed. Within the range, it is not possible to read out any angle of view according to the method.

In FIG. 4B, charge sweep gates 205 are provided in all the stages of the horizontal transfer unit 202 that receives charges transferred from the image pickup unit 201, and a gate pulse is applied to the horizontal transfer unit 202 so that the horizontal transfer unit 202 receives the charges. Charge is drain 20
6 is released. By doing so, the vertical direction can be changed with respect to the angle of view n: m of the imaging unit 201. That is, it is possible to obtain a video signal having an angle of view n: m0 depending on the timing of applying the gate pulse. To obtain a video signal with an angle of view n: m,
No gate pulse is given and all the charges in the horizontal transfer unit 202 are output to the output terminal 204 via the output amplifier 203.

According to this solid-state image pickup device, it is possible to obtain a video signal whose length in the vertical (vertical) direction is changed, but it is impossible to obtain a video signal whose length is changed in the horizontal (horizontal) direction. is there.

As a solid-state image pickup device whose length in the vertical direction can be changed, there is one having a cyclic storage unit. FIG. 5 is an example thereof, and the charges sent from the vertical transfer unit of the image pickup unit 301 in units of lines are cyclic transfer paths 303 of the cyclic storage unit 302.
Will be introduced to. In the storage unit 302, the cyclic transfer path 30
Since three electric charges are accumulated, the electric charges can be taken out from a part of the cyclic loop and a take-out section can be set to obtain a video signal having a different length in the vertical direction. When the charge is to be taken out from the storage unit 302, it is taken into the horizontal transfer unit 304 via a gate (not shown) in a line unit, and 1
The charge of the horizontal transfer unit 304 is output to the output amplifier 305 in the horizontal period.
It may be led to the output terminal 306 via.

Also in this solid-state image pickup device, a video signal compressed in the vertical direction or a video signal partially cut in the vertical direction can be obtained, but a video signal whose length in the horizontal (horizontal) direction is variable can be obtained. It is impossible to get. But,
Recently, television systems different from the aspect ratio of 4: 3 have been proposed, and when these are standardized,
Naturally, the solid-state imaging device is also required to have an effective angle of view that matches the method.

[0010]

As described above, according to the conventional solid-state image pickup device, since the effective angle of view is manufactured as a single standard in accordance with the broadcasting system, various changes in the angle of view from now on. I can't follow sex.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state image pickup device capable of acquiring video signals of various angles of view from one image pickup unit within the range of its effective angle of view.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a first horizontal transfer unit for receiving all horizontal charges vertically transferred from an image pickup unit, and one of the horizontal charges of the first horizontal transfer unit. A second horizontal transfer unit capable of receiving partial sections.

Further, according to the present invention, a storage unit for receiving all the charges in the horizontal direction vertically transferred from the image pickup unit and storing them in the cyclic or U-shaped storage transfer unit, and the transfer stage of the storage transfer unit. A horizontal transfer unit capable of receiving all charges in the unit of line from the middle, and a means for deriving a charge signal by arbitrarily selecting one of the charge extraction terminals provided at a plurality of positions of the horizontal transfer unit. Prepare

Further, according to the present invention, an image pickup unit including an optical black portion and an effective angle-of-view portion, and all horizontal charges vertically transferred from the effective angle-of-view portion of the image-pickup portion can be received in line units. , A first horizontal transfer unit having a drain for discharging charges connected to the final stage of transfer,
An accumulator capable of receiving the black reference signal charges transferred from the optical black part of the image pickup part, an electric charge of the first horizontal transfer part and the accumulator, and an electric charge in all stages. It is provided with a second horizontal transfer section connected to a drain for emission, and an output means for deriving the charge horizontally transferred by the second horizontal transfer section.

[0015]

According to the above first means, the charges in the first horizontal transfer section are transferred in the horizontal direction, the charges in an arbitrary horizontal section are transferred to the second horizontal transfer section, and the second horizontal transfer section is transferred. If the charge signal is read from, the angle of view in the horizontal direction of the video signal can be freely selected over a wide variety. Also, according to the second means, the same thing can be realized by switching the charge extraction position of the horizontal transfer portion.

Further, the charges in the first and second horizontal transfer portions can be discharged all at once through the gate. If this is performed for an arbitrary line, a wide range of angles of view in the vertical direction can be selected. be able to. Also, special processing such as image compression (line thinning) becomes possible.

According to the third means, the charge signal of the optical black portion can be obtained even if it is derived at an arbitrary angle of view, and the image quality is improved because the black reference signal is always included in each line. It can be stabilized and improved.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The image pickup unit 401 includes a photosensitive unit 4 formed of a photodiode.
02 are arranged two-dimensionally, and the vertical transfer units 403 are formed between these columns. An effective angle of view is set in the image pickup section of the solid-state image pickup device into which an optical image is introduced, and the other section has an optical black section which is not exposed to light. In the figure, the image pickup unit 401 is shown in correspondence with the effective angle of view. In the photosensitive section 402, the charges photoelectrically converted and accumulated for a certain period of time are simultaneously shifted and transferred to the vertical transfer section 403. Then, it is transferred by a vertical transfer pulse given from the outside.

At the lowermost end of the vertical transfer unit 403, a horizontal transfer unit 404 is constructed via a gate. The horizontal transfer unit 404 has been transferred from the vertical transfer unit 403.
The total charge per line can be received at each stage. The second horizontal transfer unit 405 is constructed in parallel with the horizontal transfer unit 404, but the number of stages of the second horizontal transfer unit 405 is smaller than that of the first horizontal transfer unit 404. Further, the first and second horizontal transfer units 404 and 405 are connected by a gate, and the charge of the first horizontal transfer unit 404 can be transferred to the second horizontal transfer unit 405.

Furthermore, a drain 408 is provided via a gate 406 in a part of the first horizontal transfer section 404, that is, a part not corresponding to the second horizontal transfer section 405, and a gate pulse is applied. Thus, it is possible to discharge the electric charge of the step at the corresponding position. In addition, the second horizontal transfer unit 405 is provided with a drain through the gate 407 over all stages, and by applying a gate pulse to the gate 407, the charges of all stages can be discharged all at once. An output terminal 410 is provided at the final stage of the second horizontal transfer unit 405 via an output amplifier 409.

Therefore, when all the charges for one line transferred from the image pickup unit 401 to the first horizontal transfer unit 404 are unnecessary, a gate pulse is applied to the gate to discharge all the charges for one line. To be done. Therefore, effective angle of view m: n
In the vertical direction, by obtaining the line emission operation, it is possible to obtain a video signal having a variable length in the vertical direction. Further, this video signal can arbitrarily move the cutout area on the effective angle of view.

Next, the following operation is performed in order to take out a video signal of an arbitrary area in the horizontal direction of the effective field angle m: n. That is, the position of the charge group of the first horizontal transfer unit 404 is adjusted by transfer in the horizontal direction, and a desired extraction section is made to correspond to the second horizontal transfer unit 405,
Is transferred to the horizontal transfer unit 405. Then, this charge group is read from the second horizontal transfer unit 405 by a pulse according to the method. In the first horizontal transfer unit 404, after the charges are sent to the second horizontal transfer unit 405, the unnecessary charges in the stage corresponding to the gate 406 are swept out, and the imaging unit 40.
Preparation is made to receive the next line unit charge from 1 (this is completed while the charge is being transferred in the second horizontal transfer unit 405 (1 horizontal period)). The gate 406
Since the electric charge in the portion without is already transferred to the second transfer portion 405, the potential well is empty. With such a charge sweeping method, it is not necessary to perform extreme horizontal high-speed sweeping processing, and a high-speed clock is also unnecessary. Figure 2
Is another embodiment of the present invention and is an example of a solid-state image pickup device of a type having a storage unit.

A photosensitive section 502 is two-dimensionally arranged in an image pickup section 501 having an effective angle of view, and a vertical transfer section 5 is provided between these columns.
03 is provided. At the lowermost end of the vertical transfer unit 503, a storage unit 504 is constructed which can receive charges transferred from the imaging unit in units of one line and sequentially transfer and store charges in units of one line. . Storage unit 50
In FIG. 4, a cyclic or U-shaped transfer path 505 is formed, and a part of one line of this transfer path 505 is connected to the horizontal transfer section 507 via a gate 512. The horizontal transfer unit 507 is provided with takeout terminals 508 at a plurality of stages at arbitrary positions. This terminal 50
8 is selectively connected to the selection terminal 509, and the selection terminal 5
The charge signal derived from 09 is derived to the output terminal 511 via the output amplifier 510. The terminal 508 and the selection terminal 509 are actually constituted by semiconductor gate switches. In the horizontal transfer unit 507, charge transfer and reading are performed by a pulse according to the required video signal system.

According to the above-mentioned device, when the charges transferred from the image pickup section 501 to the storage section 504 are fetched into the horizontal transfer section 507 in line units, the vertical length is changed by selecting the fetch section. A video signal can be obtained. Further, this video signal can arbitrarily move the cutout area on the effective angle of view. Next, by changing the selection position of the terminal 509 with respect to the terminal 508, it is possible to take out a video signal of an arbitrary area in the horizontal direction of the effective angle of view m: n.

When the charge reading of the entire image pickup unit 501 (reading for one screen) is completed, the charge remaining in the storage unit 504 is once discharged through the sweep gate 506 and the storage unit 504 is cleared.

According to the solid-state image pickup device described above, a charge signal having an arbitrary angle of view within the effective angle of view of the image pickup section can be derived as a signal conforming to an arbitrary method. Therefore, even if it is one image pickup device, it is possible to realize the purpose without using an analog-digital converter or a memory as in the conventional case when, for example, supporting a multi-broadcast system, electronic zoom, shake correction, and the like.

Next, in the present invention, a device is devised so that the signal of the optical black (OB) portion, which is the reference of the charge signal derived from the image pickup portion, can be easily obtained even if the extraction angle of view is changed. It has been subjected. That is, in the embodiment described below, a signal of an arbitrary angle of view in the image pickup unit is
It is possible to read out by rearranging the charges including the charge of the OB portion.

FIG. 3 shows an example thereof. The imaging unit has an effective angle-of-view unit 601 and an OB unit 604 around it. Photosensitive sections 602 are two-dimensionally arranged in the imaging section, and vertical transfer sections 603 are provided between the columns. Effective angle of view 601
The lowermost part of the vertical transfer unit and the lowermost part of the OB unit are connected to the horizontal transfer unit 605 and the storage unit 606, respectively.
A drain 609 for discharging charges is connected to the final stage of the horizontal transfer unit 605 via a gate.

A second horizontal transfer unit 607 is built side by side with the horizontal transfer unit 605 and the storage unit 606,
The charges of the first horizontal transfer unit 605 and the storage unit 606 can be transferred to the second horizontal transfer unit 607 via the gate. A drain 408 for discharging unnecessary charges is connected to the second horizontal transfer unit 607 via a gate.

At the stage where one line's worth of data is transferred from the image pickup unit to the horizontal transfer unit 605 and the storage unit 606, if this is unnecessary, all the charges are transferred to the horizontal transfer unit 607, and It is discharged from the drain 608 through the gate 610. The horizontal transfer of the horizontal transfer units 605 and 607 is unnecessary. By performing this processing, the signals of unnecessary lines within the effective angle of view can be discarded. When the necessary line is transferred, the charge of the horizontal transfer unit 610 is read from the output terminal 612 via the output amplifier 611 together with the charge of the OB unit. Therefore, by selecting the read timing, it is possible to obtain a video signal with a variable length in the vertical direction. Further, this video signal can arbitrarily move the cutout area on the effective angle of view.

Next, when a part of the charge group in the horizontal transfer unit 605 is read, a transfer clock is applied to the horizontal transfer unit 605 and unnecessary charges are discharged through the drain 609 to set a horizontal section. Next, the charges in only the necessary section in the horizontal direction are transferred to the horizontal transfer unit 607. At this time, the charges in the storage unit 606 are also transferred to the horizontal transfer unit 60.
7 is moved to the top row. Then, the charges in the horizontal transfer unit 607 are transferred in the horizontal direction and output to the output terminal 612 as a charge signal. Next, the unnecessary charges remaining in the horizontal transfer unit 607 are discharged to the drain 608. This makes it possible to extract a video signal in an arbitrary area in the horizontal direction.

As a result, within the range of the effective angle-of-view portion 601,
Various video signals with different angles of view can be taken out. In this case, the charge signal of the OB portion is also included, and the black reference can be accurately obtained. The horizontal transfer units 605 and 607 are
Independent control is possible and high speed horizontal transfer is not required. In this device, the horizontal transfer units 605, 60
If the number of stages of 7 is sufficient, it is possible to obtain all the charge signals of the OB portion and the image pickup portion of the effective angle-of-view portion 601.

As described above, in the above solid-state image pickup device, since the signal of the optical black portion can be obtained regardless of the read angle of view, the black reference becomes clear and it is effective for improving the image quality.

The present invention can have not only the setting of the angle of view but also the function of thinning out lines (image compression). Furthermore, shake prevention processing is also possible. The drive pulse is generated by the system control unit according to the intended angle of view and intended use by the system control unit, and the pulse timing may be set by, for example, a memory (ROM). Further, depending on the image pickup element, this system can shift the cut-out position within the effective angle of view even if the angle of view is the same, and can cope with damage or deterioration of some elements, for example.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Video signals of various angles of view can be acquired from one image pickup unit within the range of the effective angle of view.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional solid-state imaging device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another example of a conventional solid-state imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

401, 501 ... Imaging unit, 402, 502, 602 ... Photosensitive unit, 403, 503, 603 ... Vertical transfer unit, 404,
405, 605, 607 ... Horizontal transfer section, 406, 40
7, 512, 612 ... Gate, 408, 506, 60
8, 609 ... Drain, 504, 606 ... Storage section.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first horizontal transfer unit for receiving all horizontal charges vertically transferred from an image pickup unit, and a first horizontal transfer unit capable of receiving a partial section of horizontal charges of the first horizontal transfer unit. A multi-system solid-state image pickup device comprising: two horizontal transfer units. 2. The first horizontal transfer section is connected to a drain for discharging charges in a stage that does not correspond to the second horizontal transfer section, and the second horizontal transfer section is connected to all stages of charge. 2. The drain for discharge is connected.
The described multi-method solid-state imaging device. 3. A storage unit for receiving all the charges in the horizontal direction vertically transferred from the image pickup unit and storing the charges in a cyclic or U-shaped storage transfer unit, and a line from the middle of the transfer stage of the storage transfer unit. A horizontal transfer unit capable of receiving all charges in a unit, and means for deriving a charge signal by arbitrarily selecting any one of charge extraction terminals provided at a plurality of positions of the horizontal transfer unit. A multi-method solid-state imaging device characterized by the above. 4. An image pickup unit including an optical black portion and an effective angle-of-view portion, and all horizontal charges vertically transferred from the effective angle-of-view portion of the image-pickup unit can be received line by line, and a final transfer is performed. A first horizontal transfer unit connected to a drain for discharging a charge, a storage unit capable of receiving the black reference signal charge transferred from the optical black unit of the imaging unit, and the first horizontal transfer unit. A second horizontal transfer unit capable of receiving charges from the horizontal transfer unit and the storage unit and having drains for discharging charges connected to all stages, and the second horizontal transfer unit have been horizontally transferred. A multi-system solid-state imaging device, comprising: an output unit that derives electric charges.