Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A FET structure for use in narrow bandgap semiconductors, comprising: a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A FET structure for use in narrow bandgap semiconductors, comprising: a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The FET structure of claim 1 wherein said gate region surrounds said first and said second diode guard rings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The FET structure of claim 1 further comprising an outer periphery transistor guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said outer periphery transistor guard ring surrounds said gate region and said first and second diode guard rings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The FET structure of claim 3 further comprising a field plate region insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said field plate region surrounds said outer periphery transistor guard ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The FET structure of claim 1 wherein said narrow bandgap semiconductor is HgCdTe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
A charge conversion amplifier circuit, comprising: an input terminal for application of a reference voltage; a capacitive sense node for converting charge to voltage; a reset FET for selectively applying said reference voltage to said sense node, said reset FET having a drain coupled to said input terminal and a source coupled to said sense node; and an amplifier coupled to said sense node for amplifying said voltage, said amplifier comprising at least one FET, said at least one FET comprising: a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
A charge conversion amplifier circuit, comprising: an input terminal for application of a reference voltage; a capacitive sense node for converting charge to voltage; a reset FET for selectively applying said reference voltage to said sense node, said reset FET having a drain coupled to said input terminal and a source coupled to said sense node; and an amplifier coupled to said sense node for amplifying said voltage, said amplifier comprising at least one FET, said at least one FET comprising: a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The FET structure of claim 6 wherein said gate region surrounds said first and said second diode guard rings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The charge conversion amplifier of claim 6 wherein said FET further comprises an outer periphery transistor guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said outer periphery transistor guard ring surrounds said gate region and said first and second diode guard rings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The charge conversion amplifier of claim 8 wherein said FET further comprises a field plate region insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said field plate region surrounds said outer periphery transistor guard ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The FET structure of claim 1 wherein said narrow bandgap semiconductor is HgCdTe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The charge conversion amplifier of claim 6 wherein said capacitive sense node is a floating diffusion disposed in said substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
196 words
A CCD imager having at least one charge conversion amplifier circuit formed on a substrate, each of said charge conversion amplifier circuits comprising: an input terminal for application of a reference voltage; a capacitive sense node for converting charge to voltage; a reset FET for selectively applying said reference voltage to said sense node, said reset FET having a drain coupled to said input terminal and a source coupled to said sense node; and an amplifier coupled to said sense node for amplifying said voltage, said amplifier comprising at least one FET, said at least one FET comprising: a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
196 words
A CCD imager having at least one charge conversion amplifier circuit formed on a substrate, each of said charge conversion amplifier circuits comprising: an input terminal for application of a reference voltage; a capacitive sense node for converting charge to voltage; a reset FET for selectively applying said reference voltage to said sense node, said reset FET having a drain coupled to said input terminal and a source coupled to said sense node; and an amplifier coupled to said sense node for amplifying said voltage, said amplifier comprising at least one FET, said at least one FET comprising: a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The FET structure of claim 12 wherein said gate region surrounds said first and said second diode guard rings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The charge conversion amplifier of claim 12 wherein said FET further comprises an outer periphery transistor guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said outer periphery transistor guard ring surrounds said gate region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The charge conversion amplifier of claim 14 wherein said FET further comprises a field plate region insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said field plate region surrounds said outer periphery transistor guard ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The FET structure of claim 12 wherein said narrow bandgap semiconductor is HgCdTe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The charge conversion amplifier of claim 12 wherein said capacitive sense node is a floating diffusion disposed in said substrate.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of making a FET structure for use in narrow bandgap semiconductors, comprising the steps of: forming a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; implanting a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; implanting a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; forming a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; forming a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and forming a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of making a FET structure for use in narrow bandgap semiconductors, comprising the steps of: forming a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first surface wherein said substrate is a narrow bandgap semiconductor; implanting a source region of a second conductivity type at said first surface; implanting a drain region of said second conductivity type at said first surface and spaced from said source region; forming a first diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said first diode guard ring surrounds said source region; forming a second diode guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said second diode guard ring surrounds said drain region; and forming a gate region insulatively disposed on said substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising forming said gate region to surround said first and said second diode guard rings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of forming an outer periphery transistor guard ring insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said outer periphery transistor guard ring surrounds said gate region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of forming a field plate region insulatively disposed on said substrate wherein said field plate region surrounds said outer periphery transistor guard ring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said substrate is formed of HgCdTe.