Appeal No. 2003-0047
Application No. 09/350,335
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention is directed to an imaging apparatus
implementing a two-dimensional array of photo-diodes for
converting the incident light into charges accumulated in each
diode. A plurality of vertical shift registers receive charges
accumulated in the diodes and a horizontal shift register
receives shifted charges from the vertical shift registers
(specification, page 1). Due to the response time that the
shutter takes to start and complete the task of closing, charges
continue to accumulate in the diodes and enter the vertical
registers even after a charge sweep-out has been completed and
cause superimposition of extra image in the form of a smear
(specification, pages 6 &7). According to Appellants, more
frequent sweep-out also reduces the life of the battery and
therefore, its frequency should be adjusted according to the
operating condition of the imaging apparatus (specification, page
11).
Representative independent claim 2 is reproduced below:
2. An imaging apparatus having an imaging element for
accumulating signal charge corresponding to an incident
scene light flux in a photo-electric converting element
section comprising:
a sweep-out means for sweeping out unnecessary charge
in the imaging element;
2
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