US3840740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging device having solid-state target
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-10-30
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1992-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A solid-state imaging system is provided wherein image charge on a solid-state target corresponding to a radiation image is separated from undesirable background charge resulting from dark current or high background radiation to enhance the contrast between the desired radiation image and the background.
Inventors
- 👤 R Stewart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:37
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15; H10F39/154
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A solid state radiation sensitive device for the conversion of radiation into electrical charge in the presence of high background radiation comprising: a. an array of radiation-sensitive cells formed in a substrate of semiconductor material, each of said cells comprising a plurality of contiguous charge storage regions in said substrate; b. means for exposing said radiation-sensitive cells to radiation to generate charge comprising minority carriers in said cells, said minority carriers being stored in at least one of said charge storage regions; c. means for reducing the capacity of said charge storage region having the minority carriers stored therein sufficiently to cause the minority carrier charge stored therein to flow into an adjacent charge storage region in said array; d. means for reducing the capacity of said other charge storage region to a predetermined level sufficient to provide storage for minority carrier charge attributable to background radiation levels but insufficient to retain charge attributable to image radiation to thereby inject said image charge into said substrate. e. means for sensing the resultant image charge injected into said substrate; and f. means for subsequently injecting said charge attributable to background radiation into said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A solid state radiation sensitive device for the conversion of radiation into electrical charge in the presence of high background radiation comprising: a. an array of radiation-sensitive cells formed in a substrate of semiconductor material, each of said cells comprising a plurality of contiguous charge storage regions in said substrate; b. means for exposing said radiation-sensitive cells to radiation to generate charge comprising minority carriers in said cells, said minority carriers being stored in at least one of said charge storage regions; c. means for reducing the capacity of said charge storage region having the minority carriers stored therein sufficiently to cause the minority carrier charge stored therein to flow into an adjacent charge storage region in said array; d. means for reducing the capacity of said other charge storage region to a predetermined level sufficient to provide storage for minority carrier charge attributable to background radiation levels but insufficient to retain charge attributable to image radiation to thereby inject said image charge into said substrate. e. means for sensing the resultant image charge injected into said substrate; and f. means for subsequently injecting said charge attributable to background radiation into said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for subsequently injecting said charge attributable to background radiation include: a. means for returning said other charge storage region to said first capacity; b. and means for thereafter reducing the capacity of said other charge storage region to a level insufficient to retain charge attributable to said background radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
discharge said first quantity into said detection means from said second region;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
discharge said first quantity into said detection means from said second region;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
8 words
uncouple said target means and detection means; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
8 words
uncouple said target means and detection means; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
A solid state light sensitive device capable of converting a radiation image into a storable electrical charge pattern and separating electrical charges representing said image from electrical charge representing background radiation comprising: a. means for biasing a first portion of a semiconductor substrate to form a depletion region capable of storing electrical charge therein in response to impingement of radiation thereon; b. means for biasing a second portion of said substrate adjacent said first portion; c. means for coupling said first and second portions together to permit transfer of electrical charges from one of said portions to the other; d. means for charging the bias on said portions to permit a predetermined proportion of said charge to transfer from one of said portions to the other; e. means for removing the charge stored in one of said portions while retaining the stored charge in said other portion to thereby separate charge attributable to said image from charge attributable to background radiation; f. and means for removing said stored charge from said other portion subsequent to removal of charge from said first portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
182 words
A solid state light sensitive device capable of converting a radiation image into a storable electrical charge pattern and separating electrical charges representing said image from electrical charge representing background radiation comprising: a. means for biasing a first portion of a semiconductor substrate to form a depletion region capable of storing electrical charge therein in response to impingement of radiation thereon; b. means for biasing a second portion of said substrate adjacent said first portion; c. means for coupling said first and second portions together to permit transfer of electrical charges from one of said portions to the other; d. means for charging the bias on said portions to permit a predetermined proportion of said charge to transfer from one of said portions to the other; e. means for removing the charge stored in one of said portions while retaining the stored charge in said other portion to thereby separate charge attributable to said image from charge attributable to background radiation; f. and means for removing said stored charge from said other portion subsequent to removal of charge from said first portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said biasing means include conductive elements on said substrate to provide a depletion region in said substrate adjacent the conductive element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
discharge said second quantity from said second region to thereby divert the background charge from said detection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
discharge said second quantity from said second region to thereby divert the background charge from said detection means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said predetermined proportion of charge transferred from one portion to a second provides a separation of the stored charge into a first quanta representing signal charge and a second quanta which represents background charge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the amount of change of the bias on said portions to separate said signal charge from said background charge is predetermined to provide a charge storage capacity in one of said portions which is not greater than the average background charge, thereby to prevent retention of some of the signal charge with the background charge in said one portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
An imaging system comprising a solid state target means for converting radiation from an image into a corresponding signal charge on said target means, said target including a first region for storing charge therein comprised of said signal charge and a background charge, signal charge detection means coupled to said target means, and control means coupled to said target means for discharging a first quantity of charge substantially corresponding to said signal charge into said detection means and for diverting a second quantity of charge corresponding substantially to said background charge from said detection means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
An imaging system comprising a solid state target means for converting radiation from an image into a corresponding signal charge on said target means, said target including a first region for storing charge therein comprised of said signal charge and a background charge, signal charge detection means coupled to said target means, and control means coupled to said target means for discharging a first quantity of charge substantially corresponding to said signal charge into said detection means and for diverting a second quantity of charge corresponding substantially to said background charge from said detection means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said target means is a charge-injection device and further includes a second region for storing charge and means for charge transfer linking said first and second regions, said control means further being sequentially operable to
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said target means is a charge-coupled device and further includes a second region for storing charge and means for charge coupling said first region to said second region, said control means being further operable to discharge one of said first and second quantities fRom said first region to said second region, and thereafter to electrically isolate said one quantity on said second region from the other of said first and second quantities remaining on said first region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |