Variable charge coupled device focal plane array
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc.
InventorsBron R. Frias, Nathan Bluzer, Paul A. Tittel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A charge coupled device imager, which can operate in time delay and integration mode, can be adapted to include variable columns having one or more blocking gates or other barriers that can be independently controlled and used to divide a used portion from an unused portion. The blocking gates may require less power to electrically insulate used from the unused sections. In this regard, an imager's charge handling capacity and dynamic range can be improved, while lowering CCD operating power requirements. Blooming drains can also be included to enhance the functionality of the imager and enable bidirectional imaging capability.
Claims22
A charge coupled device comprising:
- a column of stages having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the column includes:
- a non-blocking gate, and
- a blocking gate, wherein the blocking gate:
- is adapted to divide the column into an used section and a unused section,
- operates at substantially the same voltage potential as the non-blocking gate, and
- is positioned in the column between the top end and the bottom end.
A method for directing the flow of electrical charges, comprising:
- causing a blocking gate to divide a column of stages into a used portion and an unused portion, wherein causing the blocking gate to divided the column includes operating the blocking gate at a voltage potential substantially the same as a voltage potential of a non-blocking gate of the column;
- and
- removing photogenerated electrical charges from the unused portion by a blooming drain.
A computer program product comprising a nontransitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code being configured to, when executed, direct an apparatus to execute instructions for:
- causing a blocking gate to divide a column of stages into a used portion and an unused portion, wherein causing the blocking gate to divided the column includes operating the blocking gate at a voltage potential substantially the same as a voltage potential of a non-blocking gate of the column;
- and
- removing photogenerated electrical charges from the unused portion by a blooming drain.
A charge coupled device comprising:
- a first array element that is adapted to block a flow of photogenerated charges from an unused section from entering a used section in response to maintaining a voltage potential;
- and
- a second array element that is adapted to facilitate the flow of imaging charges in the used section while operating at the voltage potential, wherein the first array element is disposed adjacent to the second array element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.