Method and charge coupled apparatus for algorithmic computations

A method of computing a binomial convolution of a set of data using an array of charge coupled devices (CCD's) comprising the steps of:

• a. encoding data input received in parallel as quantities of electric charge in a set of CCD's;
• b. using CCD's to divide each value of data in the set of data into fractional values;
• and
• c. adding the fractional values of adjacent values of data using CCD's to determine the average of the adjacent values that constitute elements of the binomial convolution of the set of data.

A method of computing a binomial convolution of a set of data using array of charge coupled devices (CCD's), comprising the steps of:

• a. inputting the set of data in parallel to an input column of CCD's in the array of CCD's so that the data is encoded as quantities of electric charge;
• b. passing the data encoded as quantities of electric charge on to a next column of CCD's in the array such that the data values encoded as electric charge held in each CCD in the input column of CCD's is passed in equal halves to a pairs of CCD's in the next column of CCD's;
• and
• c. for each pair of CCD's in the next column comprising the two equal halves of data from a CCD of the input column, passing the half value of data encoded as a quantity of electric charge held in a first CCD of each pair of CCD's along with the half value of data encoded as a quantity of charge held in a second CCD of an adjacent pair of CCD's to a destination CCD in a final column to generate an element in the binomial convolution of the set of data encoded at the destination CCD such that the final column has electric quantities indicative of data elements of the binomial convolution of the set of data.

A method of computing a binomial convolution of a set of data using an array of charge coupled devices (CCD's), comprising the steps of

• a. inputting a first piece of data in the set of data into a first CCD so that the first piece of data is encoded as quantity of electric charge;
• b. passing the first piece of data on to a second CCD and a third CCD such that half of the quantity of electric charge encoding the first piece of data passes to the second and third CCD's;
• c. at the same time that the first piece of data is passed on to the second and third CCD's, inputting a second piece of data in the set of data into the first CCD so that the second piece of data is encoded as a quantity of electric charge;
• d. subsequently, passing the half data value encoded as a quantity of electric charge of the first piece of data in one of the second and third CCD's to a delay CCD and passing the half data value encoded as a quantity of electric charge of the first piece of data in another of the second and third CCD's to a destination CCD;
• passing the second piece of data on to the second and third CCD's such that half data value encoded as a quantity of electric charge encoding the second piece of data passes to each of the second and third CCD's;
• and
• e. then,
• passing the half data value encoded as quantity of electric charge of the first piece of data in the delay CCD to the destination CCD along with the half data value encoded as a quantity of electric charge of the second piece of data from one of the second and third CCD's to generate an element in the binomial convolution of the set of data encoded at the destination CCD;
• passing the half data value encoded as a quantity of electric charge of the second piece of data from another of the second and third CCD's to the delay CCD;
• f. repeating steps a-e with remaining pairs of data in the set of data to generate additional elements of the binomial conversion.

A device for computing a binomial convolution of a set of data comprising at least one set of columns of charge coupled devices (CCD's), each set of columns comprising:

• a. a first column of CCD's for receiving in parallel data encoded as quantities of charges;
• b. a second column of CCD's in communication with the first column of CCD's for dividing data encoded as quantities of charge in the first column into halves wherein the second column has a pair of CCD's associated with each CCD in the first column;
• and
• c. a third column of CCD's in communication with the second column of CCD's comprising a plurality of CCD's wherein each CCD of the plurality in the third column receives the half data values encoded as charge a second CCD of a first pair of the second column along with the half data value encoded as charge from a first CCD of a second pair of the second column that is adjacent to the first pair;
• wherein the quantities of charge present on CCD's in the third column encode elements of the binomial convolution.

A device for computing a binomial convolution of a set of data comprising at least one set of columns of charge coupled devices (CCD's), each set of columns comprising:

• a. a first column of CCD's for receiving in parallel data encoded as quantities of charges;
• b. a second column of CCD's in communication with the first column of CCD's for dividing the data encoded as quantities of charge in the first column into halves wherein the second column has a pair of CCD's associated with each CCD in the first column;
• c. a third column of CCD's in communication with selected CCD's in the second column of CCD's for delaying a half data value encoded as a quantity of charge present in one of the pairs of CCD's in the second column;
• and
• d. a fourth column of CCD's in communication with the third column of CCD's and in communication with those CCD's in the second column of CCD's not in communication with the third column of CCD's, for receiving and summing the half data values encoded as charges from the CCD's with which it communicates;
• wherein the data encoded as quantities of charge present in the fourth column constitute elements of the binomial convolution.

A device of computing a two dimensional binomial convolution of a set of column vectors and row vectors of data comprising:

• a. a first set of columns of charge coupled devices (CCD's) for performing a binomial convolution on the column vectors of the data comprising:
• 1) a first column of CCD's for receiving in parallel data encoded as quantities of charges;
• 2) a second column of CCD's in communication with the first column of CCD's for dividing data encoded as quantities of charge in the first column into halves wherein the second column has a pair of CCD's associated with each CCD in the first column;
• and
• 3) a third column of CCD's in communication with the second column of CCD's comprising a plurality of CCD's wherein each CCD of the plurality in the third column receives the half data values encoded as charge from a second CCD of a first pair of the second column along with the half data value encoded as charge from a first CCD of a second pair of the second column that is adjacent to the first pair;
• wherein the quantities of charge present on CCD's in the third column encode elements of the binomial convolution;
• and
• b. a second set of columns of CCD's in communication with the first set of columns for performing a binomial convolution of the row vectors of the data comprising:
• 1) a first column of CCD's for receiving in parallel data encoded as quantities of charges;
• 2) a second column of CCD's in communication with the first column of CCD's for dividing data encoded as quantities of charge in the first column into halves wherein the second column has a pair of CCD's associated with each CCD in the first column;
• and
• 3) a third column of CCD's in communication with selected CCD's in the second column of CCD's for delaying a half data value encoded as a quantity of charge present in one of the pairs of CCD's in the second column;
• and
• 4) a fourth column of CCD's in communication with the third column of CCD's and in communication with those CCD's in the second column not in communication with the third column of CCD's, for receiving and summing the half data values encoded as charges from the CCD's with which it communicates;
• wherein the data encoded as quantities of charge present in the fourth column constitute elements of the binomial convolution.

A method of performing a Laplacian convolution on a two-dimensional set of data using an array of change coupled devices (CCD's), comprising two steps of

• a. inputting the set of data into the array of (CCD's) so that the set data is encoded as individual quantities of electric charge;
• b. within the array, for each piece of data dividing the data into fourths using CCD's of the array;
• delaying at least one of the fourths of each piece of the data using with a delay CCD;
• summing at least another one of the fourths of the data with at least one delayed fourth of an adjacent piece of data using CCD's of the array and subsequently dividing the summed fourths of data into halves;
• such that data encoded as quantities of charge held at CCD's on a final column of the array is comprised of elements of the Laplacian convolution.

A focal plane image processor comprising:

• a. an imager having an array of pixels comprised of rows of pixels and columns of pixels;
• b. a processing mean for performing desired calculations on pixel data values generated from the imager, comprising a plurality of charge coupled devices (CCD's) organized into groups for storing data values, a first column of which receives the pixel data values input;
• and
• c. a plurality of processing elements that manipulate the data values to perform two-dimensional calculations where the processing elements are situated between successive groups of CCD's and are in communication with said groups of CCD's.

A charge coupled device for subtracting two quantities of charge comprising

• a. a first gate structure comprised of two distinct overlapping gates of different configuration;
• b. a second gate structure identical to the first gate structure and closely enough situated to the first gate structure so that charge may flow from one gate structure to the other;
• c. a substrate on which the gate structures are deposited;
• d. a first charge source of the two quantities of charge, for applying a first voltage to the first gate structure wherein the first voltage applied corresponds to the magnitude of one of the two quantities of charge;
• e. a second charge source of the two quantities of charge, for applying a second voltage corresponds to the magnitude of the other of the two quantities of charge;
• f. an input diode for supplying electric charge to the gate structure;
• and
• g. a third voltage source for applying a third voltage to the input diode.