Patent ID: 7542083
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A read controller for an image pick-up device, wherein the image pick-up device has a plurality of sensors that are disposed therein and accumulate charges according to an amount of light, the accumulated charges are read out from the image pick-up device through predetermined transfer paths, and the read controller controls reading of the charges from the image pick-up device, the read controller comprising: an overflow drain voltage set section that changeably sets an overflow drain voltage for discharging the saturated charges of the sensors; and a smear read-out controlling section that clears the transfer paths by reading out charges remaining in the transfer paths, wherein the overflow drain voltage set section sets the overflow drain voltage to a voltage such that an amount of saturated charges equal to or greater than a predetermined amount of charges is secured even if a voltage fluctuation occurs due to smear read-out executed by the smear read-out controlling section, and wherein said overflow drain voltage set section sets the overflow drain voltage at a time of the smear read-out, to a voltage lower than an overflow drain voltage at a time of a still picture read-out, and when a moving picture is read out, to a voltage greater than the overflow drain voltage at the time of the still picture read-out.