Multiple output node charge coupled device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for optically imaging, the system comprising:
- (a) an array of cells for producing an electrical charge in response to photon stimulation;
(b) a charge shift register having a plurality of charge containers for storing charge, the charge shift register configured to receive the electrical charge produced by each cell in the array and to sequentially shift the charges between the charge containers and output the electrical charge of each cell;
(c) at least two charge sensing nodes for accumulating charge readable, from each charge sensing node, as a voltage; and
,(d) a charge demultiplexor configured to receive the output charge of the charge shift register and to selectively distribute the output charge to each of the at least two charge sensing nodes.
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Abstract
A system for optically imaging includes an array of cells, a charge shift register, two or more charge sensing nodes, and a charge demultiplexor. Each cell produces an electrical charge in response to photon stimulation. The charge shift register receives the electrical charge produced by each cell and sequentially outputs the electrical charge to the charge demultiplexor. The charge demultiplexor selectively distributes the charge from each cell to one of the charge sensing nodes. The charge sensing nodes accumulate the charge until reset by a controller.
26 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for optically imaging, the system comprising:
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(a) an array of cells for producing an electrical charge in response to photon stimulation; (b) a charge shift register having a plurality of charge containers for storing charge, the charge shift register configured to receive the electrical charge produced by each cell in the array and to sequentially shift the charges between the charge containers and output the electrical charge of each cell; (c) at least two charge sensing nodes for accumulating charge readable, from each charge sensing node, as a voltage; and
,(d) a charge demultiplexor configured to receive the output charge of the charge shift register and to selectively distribute the output charge to each of the at least two charge sensing nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for producing a voltage signal segmented to represent an output of an array of cells that produce a cell electrical charge in response to photon stimulation, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving each of the cell electrical charges from the cells in a charge shift register having a plurality of charge containers for storing charge; (b) sequentially shifting the charges between the charge containers and outputting the cell electrical charges from the charge containers of the charge shift register to a charge demultiplexor; (c) the charge demultiplexor selectively distributing the sequential cell charges to one of at least two charge sensing nodes; and
,(d) sequentially reading a voltage produced by the cell charges in at least one of the at least two charge sensing nodes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for producing a voltage signal segmented to represent an output of an array of cells that produce an electrical charge in response to photon stimulation, the system comprising:
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(a) a charge shift register having a plurality of charge containers for storing charge, the charge shift register configured to sequentially receive the charge from each cell and shift the charges between the charge containers; (b) at least two charge sensing nodes configured to accumulate charge and output a voltage signal; (c) a charge demultiplexor configured to sequentially distribute each charge from the charge containers of the charge shift register to one of the at least two charge sensing nodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification