Patent US3699375A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3699375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image detector including sensor matrix of field effect elements
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A distribution of charges is accumulated over a leaky dielectric layer in response to electrons from a microchannel plate, which amplifies the output of a photocathode layer stimulated by optical image information. Each respective element of an array of field-effect elements, coextensive with the charged dielectric and adjacent to the surface of the dielectric opposite the microchannel plate, is differently modulated in conductivity by the local field due to the local charge on the portion of the dielectric adjacent the respective element. Readout by periodic scanning of the level of conductivity of each such element results in a modulated output signal suitable for the reproduction of the optical image information in amplified form.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard E Weibel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:36
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W74/00; H10W74/40; H10W74/43; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/10; H01J29/36; H01J29/39; H01J29/44; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/26; H10D; H10D99/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for detecting image information comprising: a cathode layer responsive to said image information to emit electrons, said electron emission having an intensity distribution over said layer representative of said image information; a channel multiplier plate disposed in spaced relationship to said cathode layer and accepting said electron emission distribution for amplification and transmission; and an array of field-effect elements disposed in spaced relationship to said plate and having a layer receiving said amplified electron distribution from said plate, said array layer establishing a corresponding charge distribution pattern in response to said electron emission, said charge pattern exerting an electric field of locally varying strength over said array, said elements having respective conductivities individually varying in accordance with said locally varying electric field strength and thereby in a manner representative of said image information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for detecting image information comprising: a cathode layer responsive to said image information to emit electrons, said electron emission having an intensity distribution over said layer representative of said image information; a channel multiplier plate disposed in spaced relationship to said cathode layer and accepting said electron emission distribution for amplification and transmission; and an array of field-effect elements disposed in spaced relationship to said plate and having a layer receiving said amplified electron distribution from said plate, said array layer establishing a corresponding charge distribution pattern in response to said electron emission, said charge pattern exerting an electric field of locally varying strength over said array, said elements having respective conductivities individually varying in accordance with said locally varying electric field strength and thereby in a manner representative of said image information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said cathode layer is a photoemissive one directly sensing optical image information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 1 in which said array layer is a leaky dielectric layer storing said corresponding charge distribution for a predetermined time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as in claim 3 in which said array is a row-and-column array of field effect semiconductor elements, with each of said field effect elements having a drain and a source, and wherein said array includes a set of row electrodes and a set of column electrodes, said element drains being connected to one set and said element sources connected to the other set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
254 words
A device as in claim 3 in which said array of field-effect elements further include on the side of said array layer opposite said plate a substrate of supportive and insulating material and a sensor layer sandwiched between said dielectric layer and said substrate, said sensor layer comprising: a first plurality of electrodes fixed to said substrate and spaced in an array of parallel columns; an insulator layer fixed over said column array and having uniform openings at regular spaced intervals across its surface in registration with each of said columns to expose portions of said electrodes, said openings being formed in rows transverse to said columns and parallel to each other; a second plurality of electrodes fixed to said insulator layer and spaced in an array of rows parallel to and alternating with said rows of openings so that each of said openings is between two of said row electrodes; a layer of semiconductor material fixed over and in electrical contact with said second plurality of electrodes and said insulator layer, said layer being depressed at each of said insulator openings and electrically contacting therethrough each of said exposed portions of said first plurality of electrodes, said layer providing a pair of semiconductive paths between each of said exposed portions of said column electrodes and adjacent portions of the row electrodes between which each of said openings is situated, each of said semiconductive paths varying in conductivity in response to the electric field exerted by the local charge present on said dielectric layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
257 words
An array of field-effect-type elements for reproducing a charge distribution pattern, comprising: a substrate layer of supportive and insulating material; a first plurality of electrodes fixed to said substrate and spaced in an array of parallel columns; an insulator layer fixed over said column array and having uniform openings at regular spaced intervals across its surface in registration with each of said columns to expose portions of said electrodes, said openings being formed in rows transverse to said columns and parallel to each other; a second plurality of electrodes fixed to said insulator layer and spaced in an array of rows parallel to and alternating with said rows of openings so that each of said openings is between two of said row electrodEs; a layer of semiconductor material fixed over and in electrical contact with said second plurality of electrodes and said insulator layer, said layer being depressed at each of said insulator openings and electrically contacting therethrough each of said exposed portions of said first plurality of electrodes, said layer providing a pair of semiconductive paths between each of said exposed portions of said column electrodes and adjacent portions of the two row electrodes between which each of said openings is situated; and a uniform layer of leaky dielectric fixed over said semiconductor material and storing for a predetermined time a pattern of applied electrical charge, the conductivity of each of said semiconductive paths independently varying in accordance with the local field strength of that local portion of the charge distribution situated over the particular path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
257 words
An array of field-effect-type elements for reproducing a charge distribution pattern, comprising: a substrate layer of supportive and insulating material; a first plurality of electrodes fixed to said substrate and spaced in an array of parallel columns; an insulator layer fixed over said column array and having uniform openings at regular spaced intervals across its surface in registration with each of said columns to expose portions of said electrodes, said openings being formed in rows transverse to said columns and parallel to each other; a second plurality of electrodes fixed to said insulator layer and spaced in an array of rows parallel to and alternating with said rows of openings so that each of said openings is between two of said row electrodEs; a layer of semiconductor material fixed over and in electrical contact with said second plurality of electrodes and said insulator layer, said layer being depressed at each of said insulator openings and electrically contacting therethrough each of said exposed portions of said first plurality of electrodes, said layer providing a pair of semiconductive paths between each of said exposed portions of said column electrodes and adjacent portions of the two row electrodes between which each of said openings is situated; and a uniform layer of leaky dielectric fixed over said semiconductor material and storing for a predetermined time a pattern of applied electrical charge, the conductivity of each of said semiconductive paths independently varying in accordance with the local field strength of that local portion of the charge distribution situated over the particular path.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
247 words
A system for detecting and reading out image information comprising: a cathode layer responsive to said aid image information to emit electrons, said electron emission having an intensity distribution over said layer representative of said image information; a channel multiplier plate disposed in spaced relationship to said cathode layer and accepting said electron emission distribution for amplification and transmission; an array of field-effect elements disposed in spaced relationship to said plate, said array including a layer of dielectric receiving said amplified electron distribution from said plate for establishing a corresponding charge distribution over said layer in response to said emission distribution, and a row-and-column array of semiconductor elements adjacent said dielectric layer on the side of said layer opposite said plate, each of said elements having a drain and a source, said semiconductor array including a set of row electrodes and a set of column electrodes, said element drains being connected to one set and said element sources connected to the other set, with one of said sets of connections being rectifying in nature, the conductivity of each of said elements individually varying in accordance with the field due to the local charge on the portion of said dielectric layer adjacent said element; and means connected to each of said column and each of said row electrodes for sensing the individual conductivities of said field-effect elements and for reproducing an electrical output modulated in accordance with said element conductivities to reconstitute in signal form said image information.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
247 words
A system for detecting and reading out image information comprising: a cathode layer responsive to said aid image information to emit electrons, said electron emission having an intensity distribution over said layer representative of said image information; a channel multiplier plate disposed in spaced relationship to said cathode layer and accepting said electron emission distribution for amplification and transmission; an array of field-effect elements disposed in spaced relationship to said plate, said array including a layer of dielectric receiving said amplified electron distribution from said plate for establishing a corresponding charge distribution over said layer in response to said emission distribution, and a row-and-column array of semiconductor elements adjacent said dielectric layer on the side of said layer opposite said plate, each of said elements having a drain and a source, said semiconductor array including a set of row electrodes and a set of column electrodes, said element drains being connected to one set and said element sources connected to the other set, with one of said sets of connections being rectifying in nature, the conductivity of each of said elements individually varying in accordance with the field due to the local charge on the portion of said dielectric layer adjacent said element; and means connected to each of said column and each of said row electrodes for sensing the individual conductivities of said field-effect elements and for reproducing an electrical output modulated in accordance with said element conductivities to reconstitute in signal form said image information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |