Multiple preamplifiers with intervening overflow cell for charge coupled imaging devices

Abstract

Apparatus for amplifying output signals from a charge coupled area imaging device includes a resettable first floating gate amplifier connected to sense charge in the charge coupled device output register at a first location, a second floating gate amplifier connected to sense charge in the charge coupled device output register at a second location, and a charge limiting well disposed between the first location and the second location to remove charge in excess of a desired amount before the output signals are sensed at the second location. The dual preamplifiers permit optimization of the output signals from the charge coupled imaging device for two substantially different light levels by providing a substantially lower noise equivalent input signal level from the second preamplifier.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.