A photoelectric conversion-characteristic control method for interline transfer CCD imager

There are generally two approaches to dynamic range expansion for a solid-state imager. One is output-noise decrease. Another approach is a maximum signal-charge increase. An interline transfer CCD imager has an advantage in regard to low output noise, while its maximum amount of signal charges is lower than that for the other kinds of imagers, MOS, CPD, etc. Using a new operation mode, dynamic-range expansion for the interline transfer CCD imager has been achieved. There is a knee point in the photoelectric conversion characteristic.