Appeal No. 2002-0501 Page 2
Application No. 08/556,427
Accordingly, the appellant's solid state imaging device includes an imaging area
having photosensitive elements arranged in a matrix according to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Vertical registers transfer signal charges in respective vertical lines of the
photosensitive elements to a horizontal register. (Id. at 1, 21.) In turn, the horizontal
register transfers the signal charges to an output section. A signal according to the
16:9 aspect ratio is outputted "in a usual manner." (Id. at 1.) A signal according to a
4:3 aspect ratio, however, is outputted by discharging signal charges in right and left
unnecessary portions in the image area in a horizontal blanking period. (Id.)
A further understanding of the invention can be achieved by reading the following
claim.
6. A method of outputting necessary signal charges generated in a
central portion of the image area of a solid state imaging device as an
image signal, said image area divided into three portions comprising a first
edge portion, a second edge portion opposite to said first edge portion,
and said central portion arranged between said first and second edge
portions, said method comprising the steps of:
combining a first unnecessary signal charges generated in said first
edge portion and a second unnecessary signal charges generated in said
second edge portion in said horizontal register during a horizontal
blanking period,
outputting said combined first and second unnecessary signal
charges from said horizontal register during said horizontal blanking
period, and
outputting said unnecessary signal charges from said horizontal
register during a horizontal effective period; and
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