Adjustable CCD charge splitter
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsMichael P. Anthony, Edward J. Kohler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable charge coupled device (CCD) charge splitter includes a channel control structure and an associated plurality of output channels. Control signals applied to the channel control structure determine an amount of charge, which passes into each one of the plurality of output channels.
Claims32
A charge coupled device (CCD) charge splitter, comprising:
- an input channel;
- a plurality of output channels coupled to the input channel;
- and
- a channel control structure disposed over at least a portion of said input channel and a portion of at least two of said plurality of output channels, wherein said channel control structure is adapted to adjust respective amounts of charge flowing into the plurality of output channels in response to a control signal.
A method of splitting charge in a charge coupled device (CCD) having an input channel, a plurality of output channels, and a channel control structure disposed over at least a portion of the input channel and a portion of at least two of the plurality of output channels, the method comprising:
- receiving a charge at the input channel;
- transferring the charge to the channel control structure;
- and
- applying one or more control signals to the channel control structure, wherein the channel control structure is adapted to adjust respective amounts of charge flowing into the plurality of output channels in response to the one or more control signals.
A charge splitting apparatus for splitting an input charge in a charge coupled device (CCD), comprising:
- a channel, coupled to receive and carry the input charge through the CCD;
- a first and a second charge collection structure;
- and
- a controller, for controlling a split of the input charge so that portions of the input charge are fed, respectively, to the first and second charge collection structures.
A charge coupled device (CCD) apparatus for dividing an input charge packet into a plurality of output charge packets comprising:
- a receiver, coupled to receive and carry input charge packets through the apparatus;
- at least two charge collection structures;
- and
- a controller, responsive to an input signal, for controlling portions of the input charge that are fed to each of the charge collection structures, in accordance with parameters of input signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.