Imaging active pixel device having a non-destructive read-out gate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging pixel having non-destructive read out, comprising:
- a first charge collection device configured for collecting photo-charges at a level proportional to energy received from a portion of an object to be imaged;
a second charge collection device, being operatively connected to said first charge signal collection device and configured for selectively receiving and collecting said photo-charges from said first charge collection device; and
a gating device being operatively connected to said second charge collection device, for selectively reading the level of said photo-charges collected in said second charge collection device without destructing the collected photo-charges.
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Abstract
The imaging pixel according to the present invention includes a floating gate pixel node capable of nondestructive readout and active source follower output circuitry suitable for combination with other like imaging pixels to form an imaging array.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An imaging pixel having non-destructive read out, comprising:
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a first charge collection device configured for collecting photo-charges at a level proportional to energy received from a portion of an object to be imaged; a second charge collection device, being operatively connected to said first charge signal collection device and configured for selectively receiving and collecting said photo-charges from said first charge collection device; and a gating device being operatively connected to said second charge collection device, for selectively reading the level of said photo-charges collected in said second charge collection device without destructing the collected photo-charges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An imaging pixel device for imaging a portion of an object, comprising:
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collection means for collecting energy reflected from said portion of said object; storage means, operatively coupled to said collection means for storing said collected energy; output means coupled to said storage means, for selectively reading a potential value corresponding to said collected energy and for buffering said storage means; and transferring means for selectively transferring said collected energy between said collection means and said storage means without destructing said collected energy for repeat read-outs. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for imaging from an imaging pixel device, comprising the steps of:
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detecting energy reflected from an object to be imaged by a photo-detecting device; generating photo-charges in an amount corresponding to said detected energy; transferring said photo-charges to and from said photo-detecting device and a read-out storage device up to a plurality of times without destructing the photo-charges; buffering said read-out storage device from an output gate; and outputting from said output gate a potential value corresponding to the amount of photo-charges stored in said read-out storage device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification