Patent ID: 6721007
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G01S,H04N

Abstract:
A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising:a light source that radiates a distance measuring light beam irradiating a measurement subject, said measurement subject reflecting said distance measuring light beam to generate a reflected light beam; a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that receive said reflected light beam, so that electric charge corresponding to an amount of said received reflected light beam is accumulated in each of said photoelectric conversion elements; a signal charge holding unit disposed adjacent to each of said photoelectric conversion elements; an electric charge discharging processor that discharges unwanted charge accumulated in each of said photoelectric conversion elements, so that an accumulating operation of signal charge is started in each of said photoelectric conversion elements; a signal charge transfer processor that transfers said signal charge accumulated in said photoelectric conversion elements to said signal charge holding unit; and a signal charge integrating processor that drives said electric charge discharging processor and said signal charge transfer processor in such a manner that first and second discharge operations of said electric charge discharging processor and a single transfer operation of said signal charge transfer processor are periodically performed, so that said signal charge is integrated in said signal charge holding unit, said transfer operation starting before said first discharge operation ends, and ending after said second discharging operation starts.