US4412190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for processing CCD output signals
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1981-11-05
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Granted: 1983-10-25
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Expires: 2001-11-05
Abstract
Abstract CCD devices, such as imagers, typically have built in MOSFET output amplifiers with a large amount of l/f noise. Instead of using the baseband video output signal, the present invention uses video signal sidebands centered about the C-register clock frequency or a harmonic thereof for improved S/N. An integrator and a gate are used to still further improve the S/N.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A. Levine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:07
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C27/00; G11C27/04; H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/62; H04N25/628
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for processing a sampled signal having a sampling frequency and harmonics thereof, a predominantly low frequency relative to the sampling frequency noise component, and a baseband component, said apparatus comprising a sampled integrator having an input means for receiving said sampled signal, a gate coupled to said sampled integrator, filtering means coupled to said gate for band pass filtering said sampled signal about said sampling frequency or a harmonic thereof to produce a filtered signal, and converting means for frequency converting said filtered signal to a baseband signal; whereby the signal-to-noise ratio of said baseband signal is improved with respect to the signal-to-noise ratio of said baseband component of said sampled signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for processing a sampled signal having a sampling frequency and harmonics thereof, a predominantly low frequency relative to the sampling frequency noise component, and a baseband component, said apparatus comprising a sampled integrator having an input means for receiving said sampled signal, a gate coupled to said sampled integrator, filtering means coupled to said gate for band pass filtering said sampled signal about said sampling frequency or a harmonic thereof to produce a filtered signal, and converting means for frequency converting said filtered signal to a baseband signal; whereby the signal-to-noise ratio of said baseband signal is improved with respect to the signal-to-noise ratio of said baseband component of said sampled signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising CCD imager means for providing said sampled signal, said imager means having at least a C-register, and a clock coupled to said register, and wherein said sampling frequency equals the clock frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a follower circuit integrated with said CCD imager means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filtering means comprises a band pass filter centered about said sampling frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said converting means comprises a mixer, and a low pass filter coupled to said mixer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrator and said gate each receive sampling signals having said sampling frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrator has a cut off frequency of one-half the sampling frequency.
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) | 1986-10-24 | 1987-04-25 | 1987-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | 1991-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-24 | 1995-04-25 | 1995-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |