Patent ID: 6603512
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An imaging apparatus comprising:a solid-state image pick-up device including light receiving means adapted for producing charges corresponding to quantity of light incident thereto, vertical transfer means to which charges produced at the light receiving means are transferred, horizontal transfer means for outputting the charges transferred through the vertical transfer means, and a charge sweep-out section for sweeping out the charges stored in the light receiving means in accordance with a control signal; trigger signal generating means for generating a trigger signal; pulse width adjustable setting means for generating a trigger pulse signal of which pulse width can be adjustably set; signal generating means for outputting a first shutter control signal in which the trailing edge of the trigger pulse signal is caused to be the timing of reference, a second shutter control signal in which the leading edge of the trigger pulse signal is caused to be the timing of reference and a synchronizing signal in which the trailing edge of the trigger pulse signal is caused to be the timing of reference; signal selector means for selectively outputting one of the first shutter control signal and the second shutter control signal; drive signal generating means for outputting, on the basis of the timing of the synchronizing signal, a read-out signal for transferring charges stored in the light receiving means to the vertical transfer means and a transfer signal for outputting, through the horizontal transfer means, the charges which have been read out to the vertical transfer means; and drive means for driving the solid-state image pick-up device on the basis of the first shutter control signal or the second shutter control signal selected by the signal selector means, the read-out signal and the transfer signal, whereby an image pick-up operation of an object is performed with an effective exposure time period corresponding to pulse width of the trigger pulse signal.