CCD with enhanced output dynamic range
US6410905B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D44/472
Abstract
A CCD has a floating diffusion for receiving charge packets to be sensed, a reset diffusion connected to a reference potential level and a reset channel region between the floating diffusion and the reset diffusion. A first reset gate is positioned over a first segment of the reset channel region for controlling the conductivity of the first segment in accordance with the potential of the first reset gate, and a second reset gate is positioned over a second segment of the reset channel region between the first reset gate and the reset diffusion for controlling the conductivity of the second segment in accordance with the potential of the second reset gate. Each reset gate has a first state in which the respective segment of the reset channel region is conductive and a second state in which the respective segment of the reset channel region is not conductive, whereby a charge packet entering the floating diffusion sees a relatively small effective capacitance when the first reset gate is in the second state and sees a relatively large effective capacitance when the first reset gate is in the first state and the second reset gate is in the second state. A reset gate controller contro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.