Patent ID: 6888570
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A device for photographing an image of a subject, comprising: a solid-state imaging device which has an imaging surface composed of a large number of pixel elements struck by light rays from the subject, which includes a charge accumulating section for converting the incident light rays into charges by the pixel elements and accumulating the charges, a charge transfer section for receiving the charges from the charge accumulating section and transferring them, and a output section for outputting the transferred charges as an image signal; driving means which generates a normal driving signal in a normal driving mode to drive the accumulating section and the transfer section for transferring the charges accumulated in the charge accumulating section to the charge transfer section at a normal transfer rate and causing the imaging device to output the image signal from the output section, and which further generates a charge discharging signal for discharging the charges from the charge accumulating section outside the imaging device and a high transfer rate driving signal for transferring the charges in the charge transfer section at a high transfer rate higher than the normal transfer rate in a charge discharge mode; optical shutter means which is capable of switching between an opening mode that permits light rays to impinge on the imaging surface of the imaging device and a closing mode that inhibits light rays from impinging on the imaging surface, the optical shutter having a delay in switching from the closing mode to the opening mode or from the opening mode to the closing mode; and exposure control means for controlling the amount of light rays that reaches the imaging surface by controlling the driving means and shutter means, wherein the exposure control means switches the shutter means to the closing mode at a first time in response to the start in photographing the image of the subject, causes the driving means to start to supply the charge discharging signal to the imaging device at the first time, thereby discharging the accumulated charges from the accumulating section to the outside of the imaging device in the charge discharge mode, causes the driving means to start to supply a high transfer rate driving signal to the imaging device at the first time, thereby driving the charge transfer section at high transfer rate for a specific period, the charges being transferred in the charge transfer section to the outside of the imaging device via the output section in the charge discharge mode, causes the driving means to stop supplying the high transfer rate driving signal to the imaging device at a second time, thereby stopping the driving of the charge transfer section, switches the shutter means from the closing mode to the opening mode after the second time and keeps the shutter means in the opening mode after a third time, causes the driving means to stop supplying the charge discharging signal to the imaging device at a time substantially equal to or before the third time and the charge accumulating section to start to accumulate charges, switches the shutter means to the closing mode at a fourth time within a exposure period from the third time, and causes the driving means to supply a normal driving signal to the imaging device at a fifth time, until when the shutter means has been kept in the closing mode since the fourth time, thereby driving the charge transfer section in the normal driving mode, which causes the charge transfer section to output an image signal outside the imaging device.