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US 5,965,910 AGranted
Large cell charge coupled device for spectroscopy
AssigneeOhmeda Inc.
InventorMark B. Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an improved CCD utilizing a potential gradient along the lengths of the various channels of the CCD during charge transfer to cause generated electrical charge to migrate along the length of the channel to a summing well. The potential gradient is formed by biasing the opposing ends of the electrodes overlying the lengths of the various channels with different voltages.
Claims38
A charge coupled device (CCD) for sensing radiation, comprising:
- radiation sensing means for generating electrical charge in response to incident radiation received along a length of the radiation sensing means throughout a first selected time interval;
- charge storage means for storing the electrical charge;
- and
- biasing means for establishing, within the radiation sensing means, a potential gradient along the length of the radiation sensing means to transfer the electrical charge within the radiation sensing means to the charge storage means during a second selected time interval, wherein, substantially continuously throughout the second selected time interval, a first electrical potential along the potential gradient is more than a second electrical potential at a different location along the potential gradient.
1 more element
A charge coupled device (CCD), comprising:
- charge holding means for generating an electrical charge in response to incident radiation and for holding the generated electrical charge, the charge holding means having a first length;
- and
- an arrangement configured for establishing a gradient in electrical potential, within the charge holding means, along the first length, the arrangement being in electrical contact with the charge holding means to transfer, within the charge holding means, electrical charge along the first length in response to the potential gradient, wherein the magnitude of the electrical potential varies continuously along the first length.
A CCD for sensing radiation, comprising:
- a plurality of column electrodes, with each said column electrode having a length extending in a longitudinal direction;
- a plurality of channels for generating electrical charge in response to incident radiation received along the channels throughout a selected time interval, with each channel having a length, extending in said longitudinal direction, and the plurality of column electrodes being substantially parallel to the plurality of the channels along the lengths of the column electrodes, wherein at least a portion of each said column electrode overlies at least a portion of one of said channels, such that the portion of the channel and the corresponding overlying portion of the column electrode extend substantially in parallel in said longitudinal direction;
- and
- an energy source for biasing the plurality of column electrodes and thereby transferring the electrical charge in the plurality of the channels along the lengths of channels.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.