Multiplication register for amplifying signal charge
AssigneeE2V Technologies (UK) Limited
InventorKevin Anthony Derek Hadfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multiplication register for use in solid state imaging apparatus, such as a CCD, is described. The multiplication register has a gain element 22 comprising a plurality of register electrodes 30, 32, 34, and 36, for transferring charge along a change transfer channel, and for amplifying the charge. Channel edge defining electrodes 24 and 26 are disposed either side of the channel 28, in place of channel stops, removing the effects of spurious charges generated in the channel in the regions of amplification. The provision of the channel edge defining electrodes 24 and 26 allows the resulting structure of the channel electrodes to be made simpler, and means that a structure can be provided for clocking and amplifying charge in either direction along the channel.
Claims26
A multiplication register for amplifying signal charge, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of register electrodes, mounted on the substrate, for transferring signal charge along a charge transfer channel such that the signal charge is amplified;
- and
- at least one channel edge defining electrode, located adjacent one or more of the register electrodes for constraining the signal charge in the charge transfer channel, wherein the plurality of register electrodes comprises one or more amplification electrodes for amplifying the signal charge;
- and an overspill electrode disposed on the substrate under the channel edge defining electrode.
A multiplication register for amplifying signal charge, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of register electrodes, mounted on the substrate, for transferring signal charge along a charge transfer channel such that the signal charge is amplified;
- and
- at least one channel edge defining electrode located adjacent one or more of the register electrodes for constraining the signal charge in the charge transfer channel, wherein the plurality of register electrodes comprises one or more amplification electrodes for amplifying the signal charge, and wherein at least one channel edge defining electrode is of a length located adjacent the one or more amplification electrodes, and wherein channel edge defining electrodes are located on both sides of the charge transfer channel.
A multiplication register for amplifying signal charge, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of register electrodes, mounted on the substrate, for transferring signal charge along a charge transfer channel such that the signal charge is amplified;
- and
- at least one channel edge defining electrode located adjacent one or more of the register electrodes for constraining the signal charge in the charge transfer channel, wherein the plurality of register electrodes comprises one or more amplification electrodes for amplifying the signal charge, and wherein at least one channel edge defining electrode is of a length located adjacent the one or more amplification electrodes, and wherein the plurality of register electrodes comprises a dc electrode held at a constant potential, and at least one clock electrode receiving a clocked potential for controlling the transfer of the charge along the channel, and wherein the dc electrode, the clock electrode and the amplification electrode have substantially identical shapes.
A multiplication register for amplifying signal charge, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of register electrodes, mounted on the substrate, for transferring signal charge along a charge transfer channel such that the signal charge is amplified;
- and
- at least one channel edge defining electrode located adjacent one or more of the register electrodes for constraining the signal charge in the charge transfer channel, wherein the plurality of register electrodes comprises one or more amplification electrodes for amplifying the signal charge, and wherein at least one channel edge defining electrode is of a length located adjacent the one or more amplification electrodes, and having no channel stops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.