Patent ID: 7151567
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An electronic camera that does not use a mechanical shutter, comprising: a MOS type solid-state image pickup device comprising (i) a semiconductor substrate, (ii) a number of photoelectric conversion elements formed in one surface of said semiconductor substrate in a matrix shape along a plurality of rows and columns, (iii) a switching circuit provided for each photoelectric conversion element and electrically connected to an corresponding photoelectric conversion element, each switching circuit controlling generation of an output signal representative of charge accumulated in said corresponding photoelectric conversion element and drainage of said charge, (iv) a row selection signal line disposed for each photoelectric conversion element row and electrically connected to corresponding switching circuits, each row selection signal line being supplied with a row selection signal for controlling generation of said output signal, (v) a plurality of output signal lines each of which is corresponded to at least one pixel column and on each of which said output signal is generated, (vi) a reset signal line disposed for each photoelectric conversion element row and electrically connected to corresponding switching circuits, each reset signal line being supplied with a reset signal for controlling drainage of said charges, (vii) a readout row-shifter for sequentially supplying said row selection signal to each row selection signal line, (viii) a reset row-shifter for sequentially supplying said reset signal to each reset signal line, and (ix) an output device electrically connected to each output signal line for sequentially generating and outputting image signals representative of said output signals; an image signal processor for generating moving image data or still image data based on said image signals output from said MOS type solid-state image pickup device; a still image indication signal generator for generating a still image indication signal for indicating image pickup of a still image; a flashing device for emitting a flash in response to a reception of a predetermined signal; a moving image mode controller being connected to said MOS type solid-state image pickup device for continually controlling operation of said MOS type solid-state image pickup device, said moving image mode controller makes said MOS type solid-state image pickup device repeat (a) an image signal read operation of sequentially supplying said row selection signal from the readout row-shifter to a plurality of predetermined row selection signal lines for sequentially generating said output signals on each output signal line and (b) an electronic shutter operation of sequentially supplying said reset signal from the reset row-shifter to said reset signal lines corresponding to at least said rows to be subjected to said image signal read operation for sequentially draining said charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion elements; and a correcting still image mode controller being connected to said MOS type solid-state image pickup device for controlling operation of said MOS type solid-state image pickup device in place of said moving image mode controller when said still image indication signal is made, wherein a flashing device operation signal for operating said flashing device is made in the state that said readout row-shifter and said reset row-shifter are not operated, an exposure time of each photoelectric conversion element is set equal to or shorter than a time duration including an issuance time of said flashing device operation signal and necessary for performing two image signal read operations before and after one electronic shutter operation, and after a lapse of said exposure time, said correcting still image mode controller makes said MOS type solid-state image pickup device perform an image signal read operation of sequentially supplying said row selection signal from the readout row-shifter to each row selection signal line for sequentially generating said output signals on each output signal line; wherein said correcting still image mode controller does not intercept the electronic shutter operation or the image signal read operation under execution when said still image indication signal is made, if there is the electronic shutter operation under execution when said still image indication signal is made, said correcting still image mode controller makes said MOS type solid-state image pickup device perform the image signal read operation following said electronic shutter operation and after a lapse in exposure time, and thereafter said flashing device operation signal is made.