A method of driving a two-dimensional CCD image sensor.

摘要

An image sensor comprises rows 2-1, 2-2 of light sensing elements accumulating electrical charges in response to irradiation. The charges are transferred via gates 4-1, 4-2 to first transfer registers 3-1, 3-2. The charges are transferred from these registers into shift registers 5-1, 5-2 and out of the shift registers into a further transfer register 6 from which a serial output video signal is obtained via an output amplifier 8. In order to shorten the effective exposure time transfers from the rows of elements 2-1, 2-2 to the registers 3-1, 3-2 are effected at any time when the stored charges are being transferred from the shift registers 5-1, 5-2 to the further transfer register 6. The transfers from the first transfer registers 3-1, 3-2 to the shift registers occur in synchronism with the transfers from the shift registers to the further transfer register 6. A i discard drain region 30 is provided for sweeping out the first transfer registers and shift registers. In an alternative embodiment a discard drain region is positioned alongside the further transfer register 6.