US3863065A — Dynamic control of blooming in charge coupled, im…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 347 words

A charge-coupled, radiant-energy sensing array comprising, in combination: a semiconductor substrate; insulation over said substrate; a plurality of rows of charge storage locations comprising, at each location, n electrode means, where n is an integer greater than 1, each electrode means spaced by said insulation from the substrate; conductors joining corresponding electrode means in each row and passing over the regions of the substrate between rows; means, during an integration time, for applying a voltage to the conductors leading to at least a first electrode means of each location in each row for establishing, in the substrate, beneath that first electrode means at each location, a potential well for the accumulation of charge signal in response to radiant energy excitation; means, also during said integration time, for maintaining the conductors leading to a second electrode means of each location in each row at a potential for establishing, in the substrate, beneath that electrode means at each location, a potential barrier for tending to prevent the charge signal accumulated at each location in a row from passing to the next location in the same row; a plurality of buses, each located between a pair of rows, and each extending along the length of the rows, each bus imbedded in the substrate and maintained at a potential to act as a drain for charge carriers, the conductors extending transverse to and passing over said buses; and means including either a channel stop of predetermined impurity or an insulator of predetermined thickness adjacent the buses responsive to the voltage applied to the conductors leading to the first electrode means for establishing in the substrate between the potential well beneath each said first electrode means and each bus, a potential barrier which is lower than the barrier beneath each second electrode means, whereby any charge signal in excess of that which can be stored in the substrate beneath a first electrode means preferentially flows over the lower barrier to a bus rather than to the potential well beneath the first electrode means in the next adjacent location in the same row.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 347 words

A charge-coupled, radiant-energy sensing array comprising, in combination: a semiconductor substrate; insulation over said substrate; a plurality of rows of charge storage locations comprising, at each location, n electrode means, where n is an integer greater than 1, each electrode means spaced by said insulation from the substrate; conductors joining corresponding electrode means in each row and passing over the regions of the substrate between rows; means, during an integration time, for applying a voltage to the conductors leading to at least a first electrode means of each location in each row for establishing, in the substrate, beneath that first electrode means at each location, a potential well for the accumulation of charge signal in response to radiant energy excitation; means, also during said integration time, for maintaining the conductors leading to a second electrode means of each location in each row at a potential for establishing, in the substrate, beneath that electrode means at each location, a potential barrier for tending to prevent the charge signal accumulated at each location in a row from passing to the next location in the same row; a plurality of buses, each located between a pair of rows, and each extending along the length of the rows, each bus imbedded in the substrate and maintained at a potential to act as a drain for charge carriers, the conductors extending transverse to and passing over said buses; and means including either a channel stop of predetermined impurity or an insulator of predetermined thickness adjacent the buses responsive to the voltage applied to the conductors leading to the first electrode means for establishing in the substrate between the potential well beneath each said first electrode means and each bus, a potential barrier which is lower than the barrier beneath each second electrode means, whereby any charge signal in excess of that which can be stored in the substrate beneath a first electrode means preferentially flows over the lower barrier to a bus rather than to the potential well beneath the first electrode means in the next adjacent location in the same row.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

In a charge-coupled array as set forth in claim 1, said bus comprising a diffusion in the substrate, of different conductivity than the substrate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 311 words

In a charge-coupled, radiant-energy sensing array which includes a semiconductor substrate, in combination: two adjacent rows of charge storage locations, each location including a plurality of electrode means spaced by insulation from the substrate for accumulating charge signal at the substrate in response to radiant energy excitation; a number of conductors equal to the number of electrode means in a row, each conductor connected to corresponding electrode means in both rows and spaced the same distance from the substrate as the electrode means, each conductor for applying a voltage to The electrode means to which it connects; and means for preventing excess charge signal at a location in one row from passing to an adjacent location of the same row or to a location in the next row comprising: a bus imbedded in the substrate between the two rows and extending along the length of the rows, said bus comprising a diffusion in the substrate of different conductivity than the substrate; means for maintaining the bus at a potential to act as a drain for charge signal; and two diffusions in the substrate of the same conductivity as the substrate and of higher impurity concentration than present in the substrate, each diffusion being located between a row and the bus and extending along the length of the bus, said conductors passing over said diffusions, and said diffusions being responsive to the voltages present at said conductors for creating a dynamic potential barrier at the surface of said substrate between each location in a row and the bus, at a level lower than that between that location and the next adjacent location in said row, and sufficiently high to permit charge signal in excess of that which can be stored at a location to flow over the barrier to the bus in preference to flowing to the next location in the row.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 311 words

In a charge-coupled, radiant-energy sensing array which includes a semiconductor substrate, in combination: two adjacent rows of charge storage locations, each location including a plurality of electrode means spaced by insulation from the substrate for accumulating charge signal at the substrate in response to radiant energy excitation; a number of conductors equal to the number of electrode means in a row, each conductor connected to corresponding electrode means in both rows and spaced the same distance from the substrate as the electrode means, each conductor for applying a voltage to The electrode means to which it connects; and means for preventing excess charge signal at a location in one row from passing to an adjacent location of the same row or to a location in the next row comprising: a bus imbedded in the substrate between the two rows and extending along the length of the rows, said bus comprising a diffusion in the substrate of different conductivity than the substrate; means for maintaining the bus at a potential to act as a drain for charge signal; and two diffusions in the substrate of the same conductivity as the substrate and of higher impurity concentration than present in the substrate, each diffusion being located between a row and the bus and extending along the length of the bus, said conductors passing over said diffusions, and said diffusions being responsive to the voltages present at said conductors for creating a dynamic potential barrier at the surface of said substrate between each location in a row and the bus, at a level lower than that between that location and the next adjacent location in said row, and sufficiently high to permit charge signal in excess of that which can be stored at a location to flow over the barrier to the bus in preference to flowing to the next location in the row.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 317 words

In a charge-coupled, radiant-enegry sensing array which includes a semiconductor substrate, in combination: two adjacent rows of charge storage locations, each location including a plurality of electrode means spaced by insulation from the substrate for accumulating charge signal at the substrate in response to radiant energy excitation; a number of conductors equal to the number of electrode means in a row, each conductor connected to corresponding electrode means in both rows and spaced by insulation substantially further from the substrate in the region between the rows than the electrode means to which it connects, each conductor for applying a voltage to the electrode means to which it connects; and means for preventing excess charge signal at a location in one row from passing to an adjacent location of the same row or to a location in the next row comprising: a bus imbedded in the substrate between the two rows and extending along the length of the rows said bus comprising a diffusion in the substrate of different conductivity than the substrate; means for maintaining the bus at a potential to act as a drain for charge signal; and means comprising the regions of the substrate between said bus and each row, extending along the length of the bus, said conductors passing over said regions, and said regions developing a surface potential dependent upon the voltages present on said conductors at the relatively further spacing of said conductors from said regions, said means for creating a dynamic potential barrier at the surface of said substrate between each location in a row and the bus, at a level lower than that between that location and the next adjacent location in said row, and sufficiently high to permit charge signal in excess of that which can be stored at a location to flow over the barrier to the bus in preference to flowing the next location in the row.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 317 words

In a charge-coupled, radiant-enegry sensing array which includes a semiconductor substrate, in combination: two adjacent rows of charge storage locations, each location including a plurality of electrode means spaced by insulation from the substrate for accumulating charge signal at the substrate in response to radiant energy excitation; a number of conductors equal to the number of electrode means in a row, each conductor connected to corresponding electrode means in both rows and spaced by insulation substantially further from the substrate in the region between the rows than the electrode means to which it connects, each conductor for applying a voltage to the electrode means to which it connects; and means for preventing excess charge signal at a location in one row from passing to an adjacent location of the same row or to a location in the next row comprising: a bus imbedded in the substrate between the two rows and extending along the length of the rows said bus comprising a diffusion in the substrate of different conductivity than the substrate; means for maintaining the bus at a potential to act as a drain for charge signal; and means comprising the regions of the substrate between said bus and each row, extending along the length of the bus, said conductors passing over said regions, and said regions developing a surface potential dependent upon the voltages present on said conductors at the relatively further spacing of said conductors from said regions, said means for creating a dynamic potential barrier at the surface of said substrate between each location in a row and the bus, at a level lower than that between that location and the next adjacent location in said row, and sufficiently high to permit charge signal in excess of that which can be stored at a location to flow over the barrier to the bus in preference to flowing the next location in the row.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

In a charge-coupled array as set forth in claim 4, each electrode means comprising a pair of electrodes the first closer to the substrate than the second, said pair for producing an asymmetrical potential well, and the number of conductors being equal to the number of electrodes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a charge-coupled array as set forth in claim 5, the second electrodes being spaced closer to the substrate than the spacing of the conductors, joining corresponding second electrodes, from the bus.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a charge-coupled array as set forth in claim 5, the second electrodes being spaced further from the substrate than the spacing of the conductors, joining corresponding second electrodes, from the bus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 290 words

A radiant energy sensing system comprising, in combination: a substrate comprising a semiconductor of givEn conductivity type; insulation over said substrate; a row of charge coupled storage locations comprising a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel electrode means, each electrode means spaced by said insulation from the substrate, each location comprising a group of n such electrode means, where n is an integer greater than 1; a drain electrode formed in the substrate and extending parallel to and along the length of the row, said drain electrode formed of a semiconductor of opposite conductivity than the substrate and said drain electrode maintained at a potential to operate as a drain for charge carriers: substrate for placing at least a first one of said electrode means at each location at a potential to form a depletion region in the sugstrate at each location for the accumulation of charge in response to radiant energy excitation; means for placing a second one of said electrode means at each location at a potential to provide a potential barrier in the substrate at each location between the depletion region of that location and the depletion region of the adjacent location; and blooming control means including either a channel stop of predetermined impurity or an insulator of predetermined thickness adjacent said drain electrode responsive to the potential applied to each electrode means for creating in the substrate between each electrode means and said drain electrode a potential barrier of a height dependent upon the potential applied to said electrode means, and which, in the case of each first electrode means, is lower than the potential barrier created by the adjacent second electrode means, for permitting excess charge at any location to flow to said drain electrode.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 290 words

A radiant energy sensing system comprising, in combination: a substrate comprising a semiconductor of givEn conductivity type; insulation over said substrate; a row of charge coupled storage locations comprising a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel electrode means, each electrode means spaced by said insulation from the substrate, each location comprising a group of n such electrode means, where n is an integer greater than 1; a drain electrode formed in the substrate and extending parallel to and along the length of the row, said drain electrode formed of a semiconductor of opposite conductivity than the substrate and said drain electrode maintained at a potential to operate as a drain for charge carriers: substrate for placing at least a first one of said electrode means at each location at a potential to form a depletion region in the sugstrate at each location for the accumulation of charge in response to radiant energy excitation; means for placing a second one of said electrode means at each location at a potential to provide a potential barrier in the substrate at each location between the depletion region of that location and the depletion region of the adjacent location; and blooming control means including either a channel stop of predetermined impurity or an insulator of predetermined thickness adjacent said drain electrode responsive to the potential applied to each electrode means for creating in the substrate between each electrode means and said drain electrode a potential barrier of a height dependent upon the potential applied to said electrode means, and which, in the case of each first electrode means, is lower than the potential barrier created by the adjacent second electrode means, for permitting excess charge at any location to flow to said drain electrode.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 69 words

A radiant energy sensing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said channel stop of predetermined impurity comprises a bus in the substrate extending parallel to and along the length of the row; said bus located between said drain electrode and the row, said bus formed of a semiconductor material of the same conductivity type as the substrate but having a higher concentration of impurities than the substrate.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 115 words

A radiant energy sensing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said blooming control means comprises a region of the substrate extending along the length of said drain electrode and located between said drain electrode and said row, conductors leading to the electrode means at each location for applying voltages to said electrode means, said conductors being spaced by said insulation from the substrate, passing over said region of said substrate and extending transverse to the length dimension of said region, and wherein said insulator of predetermined thickness comprises insulation between said region of said substrate and said conductors which is substantially thicker than the insulation between said first electrode means and said substrate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-01-27	1978-07-29	1979-01-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-01-27	1982-07-29	1983-01-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-01-27	1986-07-29	1987-01-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dynamic control of blooming in charge coupled, image-sensing arrays

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