Abstract:
A multidirectional charge transfer device configured in a charge storage medium. The device includes an array of charge storage regions. Each of said charge storage regions includes a plurality of first gates, each of which is arranged in a first portion of each charge storage region, a plurality of second gates, each of which is arranged in a second portion of each charge storage region, a plurality of third gates, each of which is arranged in a third portion of each charge storage region, and a plurality of fourth gates, each of which is arranged in a fourth portion of each charge storage region. The plurality of gates and charge storage regions are configured to define at least three bidirectional charge transfer paths which are noncollinear with respect to each other. The plurality of gates are sequentially biased to establish charge transfer along one of said bidirectional charge transfer paths and forming blocking potentials to charge transfer in the remaining charge transfer paths.
Abstract:
A charge-coupled device having an array of pixel elements formed in a substrate, which device is operable in a first state to expand the depletion well regions of each pixel element into the substrate for storing incoming photoelectrons therein and in a second state to contract the expanded depletion well regions to prevent storage of photoelectrons in the contracted depletion well regions.
Abstract:
Significant reductions in transfer smear for charge sweep device imagers is made possible by performing the charge sweep operation during only the line retrace period of the operating cycle of the imager. Complete elimination of transfer smear is then possible by using an optical means for blocking the imager from incident illumination during said line retrace periods.
Abstract:
An imaging array of the charge transfer type having improved sensitivity is disclosed. The array includes a plurality of substantially parallel charge transfer channels with channel stops therebetween which extend a distance into a semiconductor body. At least some of the channel stops have blooming drains therein for the removal of excess photogenerated charge. The improvement comprises potential barrier means which constrain electrical charge generated by absorption of light in the body to flow into the channels while preventing the loss of such charge by direct flow to the blooming drains. Potential barrier means include buried barrier regions extending a further distance into the body from those channel stops having blooming drain regions therein.The invention also includes an improved method of forming this array wherein the improvement comprises forming buried barrier regions containing a greater concentration of conductivity modifiers than the channel stops after the blooming drains are formed.
Abstract:
A CCD imager of field transfer type having an image register statically clocked during image integration in a number of phases greater than it is dynamically clocked with during field transfer to a field storage register, when the image register and the field storage register are clocked in synchronous phase with each other.
Abstract:
Provided is a blooming control structure for an imager and a corresponding fabrication method. The structure is produced in a semiconductor substrate in which is configured an electrical charge collection region. The electrical charge collection region is configured to accumulate electrical charge that is photogenerated in the substrate, up to a characteristic charge collection capacity. A blooming drain region is configured in the substrate laterally spaced from the charge collection region. The blooming drain region includes an extended path of a conductivity type and level that are selected for conducting charge in excess of the characteristic charge collection capacity away from the charge collection region. A blooming barrier region is configured in the substrate to be adjacent to and laterally spacing the charge collection and blooming drain regions by a blooming barrier width. This barrier width corresponds to an acute blooming barrier impurity implantation angle with the substrate. The blooming barrier region is of a conductivity type and level that is selected based on the blooming barrier width to produce a corresponding electrical potential barrier between the charge collection and blooming drain regions. This blooming control structure, and particularly the blooming barrier regions of the structure, are very precisely defined by the selected acute blooming barrier impurity implantation angle, and optionally in addition by a rotation of the blooming barrier impurity implantation, as well as a non-vertical sidewall profile of the an impurity implantation masking layer.
Abstract:
A charge modulation device having a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type. An epitaxial layer of second conductivity type is provided on a portion of the semiconductor region so as to define an FET channel region. A first epitaxial region of the second conductivity type is provided adjacent to and in contact with the epitaxial layer so as to define an FET drain region, the first epitaxial region being electrically isolated from the semiconductor region. A second epitaxial region of the second conductivity type is provided adjacent to and in contact with the epitaxial layer so as to define an FET source region, the second epitaxial region being electrically isolated from the semiconductor region. A third epitaxial region of the first conductivity type or a metal oxide semiconductor is provided to the channel region between the source and drain regions.
Abstract:
Provided is a method of fabrication of a blooming control structure for an imager. The structure is produced in a semiconductor substrate in which is configured an electrical charge collection region. The electrical charge collection region is configured to accumulate electrical charge that is photogenerated in the substrate, up to a characteristic charge collection capacity. A blooming drain region is configured in the substrate laterally spaced from the charge collection region. The blooming drain region includes an extended path of a conductivity type and level that are selected for conducting charge in excess of the characteristic charge collection capacity away from the charge collection region. A blooming barrier region is configured in the substrate to be adjacent to and laterally spacing the charge collection and blooming drain regions by a blooming barrier width. This barrier width corresponds to an acute blooming barrier impurity implantation angle with the substrate. The blooming barrier region is of a conductivity type and level that is selected based on the blooming barrier width to produce a corresponding electrical potential barrier between the charge collection and blooming drain regions. The blooming barrier regions of the structure are very precisely defined by the selected acute blooming barrier impurity implantation angle, and optionally in addition by a rotation of the blooming barrier impurity implantation, as well as a non-vertical sidewall profile of the an impurity implantation masking layer.
Abstract:
Charge integration is selectively interrupted in a semiconductor imager with thinned substrate, by modulating the electric field normal to its back-illuminated surface. This suppresses smear generated during field transfer in certain types of imager when exposed to high-energy images, for example. The thinned substrate is cemented with an electrically insulating epoxy to a glass backing plate bearing a transparent electrode, the potential on which is varied to modulate the drift field.
Abstract:
Field-rate flicker is suppressed in a CCD imager having a three-phase operated image register provided interlacing by integrating odd-numbered fields with only the first clock phase high and even-numbered fields with only the second and third clock phases high. The flicker is suppressed by making the gate electrodes in the A register receiving the second and third clock phases of equal lengths, half that of the gate electrodes receiving the first clock phase.