Monolithic sequential processor for four-quadrant multiplier arrays

Claim 2

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge comprising: (a) input means including first switching means for providing a sequence of voltage potentials; (b) charge-coupled means coupled to said input means for providing charge indicative of said sequence of potentials; and (c) circuit means coupled to said charge-coupled means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; said potential converting means including a capacitor, buffer means coupled between said charge-coupled means and said capacitor for providing a drive of appropriate impedance for charging said capacitor, and grounding means responsive to a control signal for coupling one side of said capacitor to ground.

Claim 3

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 1 wherein said charge-coupled means includes: (a) means for supplying a source of electrical charge; (b) a charge-coupled device (CCD) having a substrate, said substrate having an insulating layer formed thereupon and input and output diffusion regions formed therein, a capacitive region including said output diffusion region, said input diffusion region coupled to said means for supplying a source of electrical charge, said output diffusion region coupled to said circuit means; (c) input well-forming means for forming in said substrate, in response to a first predetermined voltage potential condition, at least one potential well; (d) output well-forming means responsive to a second predetermined voltage potential condition for forming an output well in said substrate; and means for transferring a portion of charge in said input well-forming means into said output potential well; (e) means for transferring charge in said output potential well to said capacitive region.

Claim 4

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 2 wherein said means for supplying a source of electrical charge includes a switching circuit coupled to said input diffusion.

Claim 5

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 2 wherein said input well-forming means include first, second and third potential well-forming means for forming, in response to a voltage potential applied thereto, first, second and third potential wells, respectively, in said substrate: said first well-forming means including a first electrode on said insulating layer adjacent said input diffusion region; said second well-forming means including a second electrode on said insulating layer adjacent said first electrode; and said third well-forming means including a third electrode on said insulating layer adjacent said second electrode.

Claim 6

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 2 wherein: said output well-forming means includes an electrode on said insulating layer adjacent said output diffusion region.

Claim 7

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 2 wherein said charge-coupled device further includes means in said substrate and adjacent to said input diffusion region for forming a potential barrier to charge injected into said charge-coupled device.

Claim 8

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 6 wherein said potential barrier is formed by ion implantation.

Claim 9

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 6 wherein said potential barrier is formed by stepped dielectric.

Claim 10

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 4 wherein said charge-coupled device further includes conductive regions in said substrate under said first, second and third electrodes.

Claim 11

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 2 wherein said first switching means of said input means includes: (a) a first switch for applying certain ones of said sequence of voltage potentials to said first potential well-forming means; (b) holding means for maintaining said first potential well-forming means at the potential of a voltage from said sequence of voltage potentials applied thereto through via said first switching means; and (c) means for applying said sequence of voltage potentials to said third potential well-forming means.

Claim 12

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 10 wherein said first switch includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.

Claim 13

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 10 wherein said holding means includes a capacitor.

Claim 14

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 4 wherein said input means includes: a conversion means for supplying first and second input voltage each corresponding to an input signal; controllable switch means for selectively coupling said first input voltage and said second input voltage to said first electrode and said third electrode; means for maintaining said first electrode at a voltage potential applied thereto; means for maintaining said second electrode at a voltage potential applied thereto; and switch means for coupling said first and second gates together.

Claim 15

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 13 wherein said controllable switch means includes: a first switch circuit for coupling said first input voltage to said first and third gates; a second switch circuit for coupling said second input voltage to said first and third gates; and control means for operating said first and second switch circuits.

Claim 16

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 14 wherein: said first switch circuit includes first and second switches for coupling said first input voltage to said first and third gates, respectively.

Claim 17

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 14 wherein: said second switch circuit includes third and fourth switches for coupling said second input voltages to said first and third gates, respectively.

Claim 18

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 14 wherein: said control means includes a first control line for simultaneously operating said first and fourth switches.

Claim 19

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 14 wherein: said control means includes a second control line for simultaneously operating said second and third switches.

Claim 20

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 1 wherein the buffer means of said potential converting means includes: first and second metal-oxide semiconductor transistors each having a source, a gate, and a drain, the gate of said first transistor coupled to said charge-coupled means and to the discharge means of said circuit means, and the source of said first transistor and the drain of said second transistor are coupled to each other and to said capacitor.

Claim 21

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 1 wherein said grounding means includes a third switching means.

Claim 22

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 20 wherein said third switching means includes a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor switch having a gate, a source, and drain having an electrostatic field shield for electrically isolating control signals applied to said gate from analog signals passing through said transistor.

Claim 23

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge, said charge-coupled circuit comprising: (a) input means including first switching means for providing a sequence of voltage potentials; (b) charge-coupled means coupled to said input means for providing charge indicative of said sequence of potentials; and (c) circuit means coupled to said charge-coupled means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; the output means of said circuit means including: a capacitor coupled to said second switching means and to ground; an output line; a first buffer means coupled between said potential converting means and said second switching means for providing a low impedance drive for said capacitor in order to facilitate the impressing of a potential voltage thereacross and for providing a high impedance to said potential converting means; a second buffer means coupled between said capacitor and said output line for providing a high impedance to said capacitor.

Claim 24

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge, said charge-coupled circuit comprising: (a) input means including first switching means for providing a sequence of voltage potentials; (b) charge-coupled means coupled to said input means for providing charge indicative of said sequence of potentials; and (c) circuit means coupled to said charge-coupled means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; the output means of said circuit means including: a capacitor coupled to said second switching means and to ground; an output line; a first buffer means coupled between said potential converting means and said second switching means for providing a low impedance drive for said capacitor in order to facilitate the impressing of a potential voltage thereacross and for providing a high impedance to said potential converting means; a second buffer means coupled between said capacitor and said output line for providing a high impedance to said capacitor.

Claim 25

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 22 wherein said second switching means includes: a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor switch having a gate, a source, and a drain, and having an electrical shield for electrically isolating control signals applied to said gate from analog signals passing through said transistors.

Claim 26

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 22 wherein the first buffer of the output means of said circuit means includes: first and second metal-oxide semiconductor transistors each having a source, a drain, and a gate, the gate of said first transistor is coupled to said potential converting means, and the source of said first transistor and the drain of said second transistor are coupled together and to said second switching means; and the second buffer of the output means of said circuit means includes: third and fourth metal-oxide semiconductor transistors each having a source, a drain, and a gate, the gate of said first transistor is coupled to said capacitor, and the source of said first transistor and the drain of said second transistor are coupled to each other and to said output line.

Claim 27

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge comprising: (a) input means including first switching means for providing a sequence of voltage potentials; (b) charge-coupled means coupled to said input means for providing charge indicative of said sequence of potentials; and (c) circuit means coupled to said charge-coupled means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; the discharge means of said circuit means including a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor having a source, a gate, and a drain, and having an electrostatic field shield for electrically isolating control signals applied to said gate from analog signals passing through said transistor, said source coupled to the output diffusion region of said charge-coupled means.

Claim 28

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge comprising: (a) input means including first switching means for providing a sequence of voltage potentials; (b) charge-coupled means coupled to said input means for providing charge indicative of said sequence of potentials; and (c) circuit means coupled to said charge-coupled means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; the discharge means of said circuit means including a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor having a source, a gate, and a drain, and having an electrostatic field shield for electrically isolating control signals applied to said gate from analog signals passing through said transistor, said source coupled to the output diffusion region of said charge-coupled means.

Claim 29

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge comprising: (a) charge-coupled means for providing charge indicative of a sequence of potentials, said charge-coupled means including: (1) means for supplying a source of electrical charge; (2) a charge-coupled device (CCD) having a substrate, said substrate having an insulating layer formed thereupon and an input diffusion region formed therein, said input diffusion region coupled to said means for supplying a source of electrical charge; (3) input well-forming means for forming, in response to a voltage potential applied thereto, at least one potential well in said substrate; (b) input means including first switching means for providing said sequence of voltage potentials, said input means including: (1) a first switch means for applying certain ones of said voltage potentials to said first potential input well-forming means; (2) means for maintaining said first potential well-forming means at the potential of a voltage applied thereto via said switch means; and (3) means for applying said voltage potentials to said third potential well-forming means.

Claim 30

A charge-coupled circuit for metering electrical charge comprising: (a) charge-coupled means for providing charge indicative of a sequence of potentials, said charge-coupled means including: (1) means for supplying a source of electrical charge; (2) a charge-coupled device (CCD) having a substrate, said substrate having an insulating layer formed thereupon and an input diffusion region formed therein, said input diffusion region coupled to said means for supplying a source of electrical charge; (3) input well-forming means for forming, in response to a voltage potential applied thereto, at least one potential well in said substrate; (b) input means including first switching means for providing said sequence of voltage potentials, said input means including: (1) a first switch means for applying certain ones of said voltage potentials to said first potential input well-forming means; (2) means for maintaining said first potential well-forming means at the potential of a voltage applied thereto via said switch means; and (3) means for applying said voltage potentials to said third potential well-forming means.

Claim 31

A charge-coupled circuit according to claim 26 further including fourth well-forming means responsive to a voltage potential for forming an output well in said substrate and for transferring a portion of charge in said first, second and third wells into said output potential well.

Claim 32

A circuit comprising: (a) charge-coupled means including: (1) a well-forming means responsive to a voltage potential for forming an output well in said substrate; (2) means for storing charge in said output potential well; (b) circuit means coupled to said circuit means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; and (c) means for coupling said output potential to said circuit means.

Claim 33

A circuit comprising: (a) charge-coupled means including: (1) a well-forming means responsive to a voltage potential for forming an output well in said substrate; (2) means for storing charge in said output potential well; (b) circuit means coupled to said circuit means including potential converting means for providing and storing a signal indicative of said charge provided by said charge-coupled means, output means coupled to said potential converting means including second switching means for providing in response to a switching signal, an output signal indicative of the signal provided by said potential converting means, and discharge means for removing charge in said charge-coupled means at predetermined times; and (c) means for coupling said output potential to said circuit means.