throbber
EXHIBIT 1032
`
`U.S. PATENT NO. 4,011,442 TO ENGELER
`
`(“ENGELER”)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TRW Automotive U.S. LLC: EXHIBIT 1032
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NUMBER 8,599,001
`IPR2015-00436
`
`

`
`United States Patent
`
`[,9]
`
`Engeler
`
`1541
`
`1751
`[731
`
`[22]
`
`[21]
`152]
`
`1511
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`APPARATUS FOR SENSING OPTICAL
`SIGNALS
`
`Inventor: William E. Engeler, Scotia, N.Y.
`
`Assignee:
`
`Filed:
`
`General Electric Company,
`Schenectady, N.Y.
`Dec. 22, 1975
`
`Appl. No.: 643,539
`U.S. c1. .......................... .. 235/193; 250/211 1;
`307/221 D; 340/173 LS; 358/213
`Int. CL? .................... .. G06G 7/12; H04N 3/14
`Field of Search ................ .. 235/193, 156, 152-,
`178/7.1, DIG. 3, DIG. 12; 250/211 J, 211 R,
`578; 357/24, 30, 32; 340/173 LS; 307/221 C,
`221 1)
`
`References Cited
`
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`
`3,717,770
`3,801,820
`3,856,989
`3,904,818
`
`................... .. 250/211 J
`Dyck et al.
`2/1973
`Eichelberger et al.
`....... .. 250/211 J
`4/1974
`12/1974 Weimer ............................. .. 178/71
`9/1975
`Kovac ............................... .. 178/7.1
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`4,011,442
`
`Mar. 8, 1977
`
`3,919,468
`
`11/1975 Weimer ............................ .. 178/7.1
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Pratt et al.-—“Hadamard Transform Image Coding”—-
`Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 57, No. 1, Jan. 1969, pp.
`58-68.
`‘
`
`Primary Examiner—JOseph F. Ruggiero
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Julius J. Zaskalicky; Joseph
`T. Cohen; Jerome C. Squillaro
`
`[571
`
`I ABSTRACT
`
`In optical imaging apparatus a semiconductor substrate
`in which a pattern of charge is produced in a plurality
`of charge storage sites therein in accordance with a
`spatial pattern of radiation, output means are provided
`for deriving an output comprising signals proportional
`to the algebraic sums of selected combinations of the
`charge in the plurality of charge storage sites.
`
`12 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures
`
`c/ecu/r 1
`
`1032-001
`
`1032-001
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 8, 1977
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`4,011,442
`
`/‘cg /.
`
`‘
`
`.S‘PA7'/AL PATTERN
`0/: RAD/A 7/am
`
`CHARGE C'0£l£-'C‘7/0/1/,
`.5‘7'DRAG-E A/VD
`RE/900!/T /IPHGR/17'!/.5‘
`
`CZ 0C'K
`PULSE
`GENERATOR
`
`'
`
`STORAGE ELECTRODE SELECTOR
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`/2
`
`">.\
`
`N E
`
`Q:
`
`3\Q
`EV:\./
`
`
`
`RELATIVEM/7'EGRATEDSTOREDCHARGE \Nto.§
`
`
`
`STORAGE DEVICES’
`
`1032-002
`
`1032-002
`
`

`
`U..S. Patent Mar. 3, 1977
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`4,011,442
`
`./2'
`22
`24d / /9
`2/
`,
`%m5u Z
`
`/7
`
`1032-003
`
`0 V
`
`Juana”
`
`1n
`
`1032-003
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 8, 1977
`
`4,011,442
`
`+——-+
`
`TABLE-2
`
`+ 5+5? +E3+E4=Z,4
`
`+E,+ Q— E3—E4—-=28
`
`+E,-—E2—E3+E;z=ZC
`
`‘I-E, -52+ E‘;-E¢=ZD
`
`TABLE-3
`
`+ 24+ 23+ zc.+ z0= 45,
`
`+.S_‘4+ 25- ZC- ZD= 4E2
`
`+ Z4 —Z3—Zc+ ZD= 4E3
`
`1032-004
`
`1032-004
`
`

`
`U..S. Patent Mar. 8, 1977
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`4,01 1,442
`
`.mII2J.,M
`%
`
`Wu
`
`aéxhmmuomm
`
`Lxnotxu
`
`4§G>n
`
`now<.uO.UWQ
`
`W\_\QQm.>5.
`
`mmuakkuuqm
`
`<<W0
`
`1032-005
`
`1032-005
`
`

`
`US. Patent Mar. 8, 1977
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`4,011,442
`
`Pg /2.
`
`BUFFER
`ELECTRODE
`
`/1"EC0l.LEC7'
`ELECTRODE
`
`SUMMAT/0/V
`EL ECTRODE
`
`causcr/0/v 5/75
`\ 7%:
`63
`fl-«-2-»-I-<-3-»!
`53¢
`54
`65
`
`5U;F£'P
`82 0 TE
`
`TR/GM/SFFP 2/
`‘'75 83
`43/
`‘%—
`76
`l<-f—>l
`I-<—?->+
`66
`67
`
`"'\
`lu
`
`5%
`K05
`8x4
`u.°‘3
`5°32
`his
`/
`SF:
`04%
`‘*3,
`
`1032-006
`
`1032-006
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 8, 1977
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`4,011,442
`
`CLOCK PULSE
`
`VOL 77465
`
`-—->- Pg/3/)
`
`7W5
`
`4
`
`-/5V
`
`to 2‘; #2 £3 23¢ 2-‘5 t6 t7 255 #9 tie £71
`
`conxmoz. GATE
`
`//047'/965
`
`0
`
`MW
`
`RECOLLECTOR 0
`
`EL EC’ TRODE
`VOL77‘? GE
`
`—20l/
`
`FIRST m4/v.sv=,.=.e
`
`9,475 voz.-mes
`
`—/6'1’
`
`S500/v0 TRANSFER 0
`
`enrs 1/az.r,4es
`
`-/5V
`
`r//mo TRANSFER 0
`GATE VOLTAGE
`
`-/5 V
`
`F0!/R7‘/7’ 7-/944/3:5,? 0
`
`@975 Vol.7/I65
`
`REL/I7‘/I/E
`OI/7P!/7'
`V04 7'/IGE
`
`REL A TIME
`OU7‘/’(/7'
`J/0/.7'a,4GE
`
`-/5!’
`
`
`
`|I-ANQM~Mxm%on-AosQ>€
`
`___,.
`
`/38
`
`W
`
`W
`
`.
`
`”"
`
`F/'
`. /30
`kg
`
`—* 7‘/3 /35
`
`—>' F’ /37:
`
`-* 7: /3 G
`
`Fg, /5/7’
`
`/3 I
`
`1032-007
`
`1032-007
`
`

`
`U..S.. Patent Mar. 8, 1977
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`4,011,442
`
`'HE‘?%‘c—,_s%_-:¢,,,,,,,,,,,¢,W
`III/YIIIIIU
`
`magi:M,53%—9;:-;2;—,2;
`
`W
`
`1032-008
`
`_ 83
`
`0
`-
`0
`1
`F/“,3?//7
`§i\\\\§ \\\\\\\\ :\w
` 63¢?
`
`1032-008
`
`

`
`7mcosaM..I.HC..I.aPS_U
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`4,01 1,442
`
`n--my
`
`§LS\§bV5!‘§§..§§§\\.1E
`
`/W
`
`il
`
`1032-009
`
`1032-009
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,01 1,442
`
`2
`
`APPARATUS FOR SENSING OPTICAL SIGNALS .
`
`The present invention relates to apparatus utilizing
`arrays of semiconductor imaging devices for sensing
`optical signals.
`In arrays of semiconductor imaging devices an opti-
`cal signal in the form of a spatial pattern of radiation is
`imaged on the array and produces in charge storage
`sites of the devices a pattern of charge carriers propor-
`tional to the spatial pattern of radiation. The charge
`storage at each site is individually addressed in various
`ways. One way is by transporting it over a long distance
`in large arrays of sites to an output device where it is
`sensed to obtain signals
`representing the charges
`stored. When small quantities of charge are involved
`the attenuation occurring in the transport process
`makes it difficult to provide high sensitivity in such
`arrays. Another way is by sensing the charge storage at
`the charge storage site. In large arrays large capaci-
`tances are associated with the sensing circuits and ac-
`cordingly small signal sensing becomes difficult if not
`impossible.
`The present invention is directed to overcoming the
`limitations such as pointed out above in prior art meth-
`ods and apparatus for reading out point intensity sig-
`nals in semiconductor imaging arrays.
`An object of the present invention is to provide im-
`provements in semiconductor imaging devices and in
`the method and apparatus for the operation thereof.
`Another object of the present invention is to directly
`read out image transform information from solid state
`imaging apparatus.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`semiconductor imaging devices of simple construction
`and high sensitivity.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`method and apparatus for reading out imaging arrays
`with improved signal to noise ratio.
`‘

`A further object of the present invention is to provide
`apparatus for readout of imaging arrays of semiconduc-
`tor devices rapidly and efficiently.
`.
`In carrying out the invention in an illustrative em-
`bodiment there is provided a substrate of one conduc-
`tivity type having a major surface. Means. are provided ’
`for forming a plurality of charge storage sites for oppo-
`site type carriers adjacent the major surface of the
`substrate. Means are provided for exposing the sub-
`strate to a spatial pattern of radiation to produce a
`pattern of opposite type carriers of variable quantity in
`the plurality of storage sites in each of which the quan-
`tity of opposite type carriers is proportional
`to the
`spatial pattern of radiation. Output means are provided
`in the form of electrodes insulatingly overlying the
`substrate for deriving an output comprising signals
`proportional to the algebraic sum of selected combina-
`tions of the charge in the first plurality of charge stor-
`age sites.
`The features which are believed to be characteristic
`of the present invention are set forth with particularity
`in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to
`its organization and method of operation , together with
`further objects and advantages thereof may best be
`understood by reference to the following description
`taken in connection with the accompanying drawings
`in which:
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of imaging apparatus in
`accordance with the present invention.
`
`65
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the charge storage and
`readout apparatus of FIG. 1.
`.
`FIG. 3 is a graph of integrated stored charge in the
`charge storage and readout apparatus in response to a
`pattern of radiation incident on the apparatus.
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a charge storage device
`of the apparatus of FIG. 2, showing two potential well
`diagrams useful in explaining the operation of the de-
`vice.
`
`FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of another charge stor-
`age device which can be used in the apparatus of FIG.
`2.
`‘
`FIG. 6 is a sectional view of still another charge stor-
`age device which can be used in the apparatus of FIG.
`2.
`
`in explaining the
`FIG. 7 shows three tables useful
`operation of the present invention. Table I shows a
`Hadamard matrix of the fourth order. Table 2 repre-
`sents four equations each including the same indepen-
`dent variables which are algebraically summed accord-
`ing to the code represented by a respective row of the
`matrix of Table 1. Each ofthe variables represents a
`signal corresponding to the charge stored in a respec-
`tive device of the apparatus of FIG. 2. Table 3 shows
`four equations in which the independent variables are
`the four sums of Table 2. The independent variables
`are summed in accordance with the Hadamard matrix
`
`of Table l to obtain four sums each proportional to a
`respective one of the independent variables of Table 2.
`FIG. 8 shows a plan view of imaging apparatus utiliz-
`ing "a two dimensional array of charge storage devices
`in accordancelwith the present invention.
`FIG. 9 shows imaging apparatus utilizing a linear
`array of imaging devices in accordance with the present
`invention.
`FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 9
`taken along section lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.
`FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the imaging device of
`FIG. 9 taken along section lines 11-11 of FIG. 9.
`FIG. 12 shows a sectional View of the device of FIG.
`9 similar to the sectional view of FIG. 10 and also in-
`
`cludes a diagram of semiconductor surface potential
`versus distance along the semiconductor surface under-
`lying the electrodes of the device useful in explaining
`one mode of operation of the device in accordance
`with the present invention.
`_
`FIGS.
`l3A—l3I are diagrams of voltage waveforms
`useful in explaining the operation of the imaging appa-
`ratus of FIG. 9 of the present invention.
`FIG. 14 is a diagram of voltage versus time of the
`summation} signals of FIG. 13H reconstructed into a
`video signal by transformation of the summation sig-
`nals.
`
`FIG. 15 shows a plan view of a portion of a large two
`dimensional array utilizing devices similar to the de-
`vices of the linear array of the apparatus of FIG. 9.
`FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG.
`15 taken along the section lines l6—— 16 of FIG. 15.
`FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG.
`15 taken along section lines 17-17 of FIG. 15.
`FIG. 18 shows a plan view of a portion of another
`embodiment of imaging apparatus in accordance with
`the present invention.
`FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG.
`18 taken along section lines 19——l9 of FIG. 18.
`FIG. 20 is a sectional View of the apparatus of FIG.
`18 taken along section lines 20-20 of FIG. 20.
`
`1032-010
`
`1032-010
`
`

`
`4,01 1,442
`
`4
`
`5
`
`10
`
`tion site underlying electrode 24a and back again by
`control of the relative potentials on the two electrodes.
`The charge in a device may be repeatedly transferred
`between sites in the device without commingling the
`charge. with charge in other devices of the apparatus.
`FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the device 15 and
`also shows a potential well 25 with portion 25b thereof
`underlying the storage electrode 22 being deeper than
`the portion 25a thereof underlying the summation elec-
`trode 25a, as a larger negative voltage is applied to the
`storage electrode 22 than to the summation electrode
`24a. Charge 26 is shown as stored in the storage site
`underlying the storage electrode. The arrow indicates
`that with the potential well underlying the storage elec-
`trode deeper than the potential well underlying the
`summation electrode, charge would flow from a stor-
`age site underlying the summation electrode to the site
`underlying the storage electrode. FIG. 4 also shows
`another potential well 28 in which the potential on the
`storage electrode 22 has been reduced in absolute mag-
`nitude and the potential on the summation electrode
`24a has remained fixed. Thus, any charge stored in the
`potential well or storage site underlying the storage
`electrode 22 now flows into the potential well or stor-
`age site underlying the summation electrode 24a as
`indicated by the arrow. Accordingly, by switching the
`potential of the storage electrode'22 above and below
`the potential of the summation electrode 24a charge
`may be transferred into and out of the storage site
`underlying the summation electrode 24a.
`Each of the storage electrodes 22 of FIG. 2 are con-
`nected to a respective one of the terminals of the stor-
`age electrode selector circuit 30 which is controlled by
`the clock pulse generator 31 and which provides the
`bias voltage for establishing the storage sites underlying
`the electrodes 22 and for providing the potentials on
`the electrodes 22 for the selective transfer of charge
`from the storage sites underlying electrode 22 to a
`coupled storage site underlying a corresponding sum-
`mation electrode 24a and back again. The common
`summation line 24 connects all of the summation elec-
`trodes 24a of the devices together and to a charge
`sensing circuit 32. The charge sensing circuit 32 pro-
`vides an output proportional to the difference in the
`sum of the charges transferred from the storage sites
`underlying the storage electrodes 22 to the storage sites
`underlying the summation electrodes 24a and the-sum
`of the charges transferred from the storage sites under-
`lying the summation electrodes to the storage sites
`underlying the storage electrodes, i.e., an output pro-
`portional to the net transfer of charge in the sites un-
`derlying the summation line 24. The charge sensing
`circuit 32 includes a high gain differential amplifier 33
`having an inverting terminal 34, a non-inverting termi-
`nal 35, and an output terminal 36. A change in voltage
`at the inverting terminal in one direction in relation to
`a reference potential produces a change in voltage at
`the output tenninal in the opposite direction in relation
`to the reference potential. A change in voltage at the
`non-inverting terminal in one direction in relation to a
`reference potential produces a change in voltage at the
`output terminal in the same direction in relation to the
`‘reference potential. The inverting terminal 34 is con-
`nected to the summation line 24, the non-inverting
`terminal 35 is connected to the negative terminal of a
`bias source 37, the positive terminal of which is con-
`-nected to ground. A feedbackicapacitor C“; is con-
`nected between the output tenninal 36 and the invert-
`
`3
`1 and 2 which shows
`Reference is made to FIGS.
`image sensing apparatus 10 including means for provid-
`ing a spatial pattern of radiation 13, means for providig
`a corresponding pattern of charge 11 and a charge
`collection, storage and readout apparatus 12 in accor-
`dance with the present invention. The spatial pattern of
`charge 11 is produced by the action of the radiation 13
`focused onto the apparatus 10. The source of the spa-
`tial pattern of radiation 12 may, for example, be the
`radiation from an illuminated object imaged onto the
`image sensing apparatus 10 by means of a lens system.
`The spatial pattern of radiation 13 produces a corre-
`sponding pattern of charge 11 which is collected and
`stored in the charge collection, storage and readout
`apparatus 12.
`The charge storage and readout apparatus 12 in-
`cludes a plurality of charge storage and summation
`devices 15, only four of which are shown for reasons of
`simplicity in describing the structure and explaining the
`operation thereof‘. The devices 15 are formed on a 20
`common substrate 16 of, for example, N-type conduc-
`tivity silicon of suitable resistivity and having a major
`surface 17. A layer of thick insulation 18 which may
`conveniently be silicon dioxide is provided overlying
`the major surface 17 (FIG. 4) of the substrate. A plu-
`rality of generally rectangular recesses 19 are provided
`in the thick insulating member 18, each corresponding
`to the location of a respective image sensing device 15.
`Each of the recesses 19 extends to within a short dis-
`tance of the major surface of the semiconductor sub-
`strate to provide a region 21 of thin insulation lying
`thereover. A plurality of storage electrodes 22 are pro-
`vided, each in a respective recess 19. Preferably the
`electrodes 22 are transparent to radiation in order to
`pennit incident radiation to be transmitted to the sub-
`strate. Radiation may also be imaged onto the substrate
`from the rear surface thereof. Also overlying the thick
`and thin portions of the insulator member 18 and ex-
`tending generally perpendicular to the long dimension
`of the recesses is a conductive member or a storage line
`24. The portions of the the storage line lying in the
`recesses 19 constitutes a plurality of summation elec-
`trodes 24a, each forming a part of a respective imaging
`device 15. Each of the summation electrodes 24a is
`adjacent a respective one of the charge storage elec-
`trodes 22.
`‘
`The application of suitable potentials to the storage
`electrodes 22 and to the summation electrodes 24a, for
`example, in the case of an N-type semiconductor sub-
`strate, the application of negative potentials of appro-
`priate magnitudes to these electrodes with respect to
`the substrate 16, will produce depletion regions under-
`lying the electrodes in which minority carriers gener-
`ated in response to incident radiation are stored. The
`generated charge is dependent on the intensity of the
`incident radiation and on the duration thereof. FIG. 3
`shows a graph of arbitrary values of integrated stored
`charge for the four devices of the apparatus 12 and
`represents a pattern of charge produced in the appara-
`tus in response to an arbitrary pattern of radiation
`incident on the apparatus. The charge storage elec-
`trode 22 and the summation electrode 24a of each of
`the devices are closely coupled so that the depletion
`regions or potential wells formed under the electrodes
`in the semiconductor substrate are also closely coupled
`and that charge may not only be stored in each of the
`depletion regions or sites but may be transferred from
`a storage site underlying an electrode 22 to a summa-
`
`65
`
`I5
`
`1032-011
`
`1032-011
`
`

`
`5
`
`4,011,442
`
`6
`
`ing terminal 34 of the high gain differential amplifier.
`The feedback capacitor C H; is shunted by a reset switch
`38 in the form of a MOSFET transistor, the gate of
`which is driven by the integrator reset circuit 39 which
`is controlled by the clock pulse generator 31. As the
`potential of the inverting terminal 34 follows the poten-
`tial of the non-inverting terminal 35 of high gain differ-
`ential amplifier, when the reset switch is closed, voltage
`on the inverting terminal 34 and hence the summation
`line is the same as on the non—inverting terminal 35.
`The potential of the source 37 thus sets the potential of
`the bottom of the potential well of each of the storage
`sites underlying the summation electrodes 24a. To
`obtain a signal proportional to the sum of the charges in
`selected sites underlying the storage electrodes 22, the
`reset switch 38 is initially closed to set the potential of
`the storage sites underlying the summation electrodes
`24a to a reference value. The reset switch 38 is then
`
`10
`
`15
`
`opened and the storage electrodes 22 overlying the
`selected sites which are selected for summation are
`raised in potential to effect the transfer of charge in
`those sites to corresponding summation sites. This
`transfer of charge from storage sites to coupled summa-
`tion sites causes an opposing charge to be induced on
`the summation line 24 which is proportional to the
`transferred charge. This induced charge is in response
`to amplifier action in which the feedback capacitance
`C“; functions to drive the inverting terminal 34 of the
`amplifier 33 to maintain zero difference in voltage
`between its potential and the potential of the non-
`inverting terminal 35 connected to the source 35. The
`change in output voltage appearing at the output tenni-
`nal 36 of the differential amplifier is equal to the charge
`delivered to the summation line 24 divided by the feed-
`back capacitance C”. Accordingly, the voltage devel-
`oped across the feedback capacitor C“; and hence at
`the output terminal 36 of the differential amplifier is
`proportional to the sum of the charges stored in the
`selected storage sites and transferred to the coupled
`summation sites underlying the summation electrode.
`The algebraic summation (i.e. a summation with a
`pattern or code of both plus and minus signs) of the
`charge stored in the storage sites underlying the elec-
`trodes may also be obtained in the apparatus of FIG. 2.
`To achieve this result the charges to be summed with
`positive sign are stored in the storage sites underlying
`the storage electrodes 22. The charges to be summed
`with negative sign are transferred to the storage sites
`underlying the summation electrodes 24a by raising the 50
`electrode potential on the coupled storage electrodes.
`After resetting the summation line to the potential of
`source 37 by the reset circuit as described above the
`charges stored under the storage electrodes 22 and to
`be summed with a positive sign are transferred to the
`storage sites underlying the summation electrodes 24a
`by raising the potential on the corresponding storage
`electrodes. Simultaneously, the charges stored under
`the summation electrodes 24a and to be summed with
`a negative sign are transferred to the storage sites un-
`derlying the storage electrodes 22 by lowering the po-
`tential on the corresponding storage electrodes. Ac-
`cordingly, a net charge is induced on the summation
`line and an output voltage appears on terminal 36
`which represents the algebraic sum of the charges
`stored in the devices. Charge sensing in the manner
`described above is also described and claimed in co-
`pending application Ser. No. 591,636, filed June 30,
`
`1975, and assigned to the assignee of the present inven-
`tion.
`
`The operation of the apparatus of FIG. 2 will be
`described with reference to Tables 1-3 of FIG. 7. Table
`1 shows a Hadamard matrix of the fourth order having
`four rows designated A, B, C and D and having four
`columns designated 1, 2, 3 and 4. Table 2 shows four
`equations in which the independent variables are sig-
`nals E1 thru E4 corresponding to charge stored in de-
`vices 1 thru 4, respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 2.
`The sums EA, 23, EC and ED represent, respectively,
`algebraic sums of the signals Elthru E4 in accordance
`with the signsset forth in the respective rows A through
`D of Table -1. In accordance with the present invention
`the summation signals 2,, thru Spare obtained at the
`output of the apparatus of FIG. 2 by the application of
`control voltages from the storage electrode selector 30
`to the storage electrodes of the four devices 15.
`To obtain the sum EA, initially charge in all of the
`devices is stored in the storage sites underlying elec-
`trodes 22. Next, the potential on the summation line is
`set to the potential of the source 37 by action of the
`reset switch 38 in resetting the amplifier 33. Charge is
`then transferred from all of the storage sites underlying
`electrodes 22 to the summation sites underlying all of
`the electrodes 24a by raising the potential of storage
`electrodes in relation to the summation electrodes. The
`output appearing at terminal 36 of the differential am-
`plifier is a signal 2,, proportional to the sum of trans-
`ferred charge. To obtain the sum 23,
`initially the
`charge in the first and second devices and to be
`summed with positive sign is stored in the storage sites
`underlying storage electrodes 22 thereof. The charge in
`the third and fourth devices and to be summed with
`
`negative sign is stored in the summation sites underly-
`ing summation electrodes 24a thereof. After resetting
`the amplifier 33 and the potential on the summation
`line by action of the reset switch 38, charge is trans-
`ferred from the storage sites to the summation sites of
`first and second devices by raising the potential of the
`storage electrodes thereof and simultaneously charge is
`transferred from the summation sites to the storage
`sites of the third and fourth devices by lowering the
`potential of the storage electrodes thereof. Thus, the
`output appearing at terminal 36 of the differential am-
`plifier is a signal 23 proportional to the net sum of
`transferred charge. The sum EC is obtained by initially
`storing the charge in the first and fourth devices in the
`storage sites thereof and storing the charge in the sec-
`ond and third devices in the summation sites thereof,
`and then effecting a simultaneous transfer of charge in
`the devices, as explained above, to obtain the output
`signal EC. Finally, the sum 2,, is obtained by initially
`stonng the charge in the first and third devices in the
`storage sites thereof and storing the charge in the sec-
`ond and fourth devices in the summation sites thereof
`and then effecting a simultaneous transfer of charge in
`the devices to obtain the output signal ED. If it is as-
`. sumed that the relative magnitude of charges stored in
`devices 1 through 4 and hence E1 through E4, are re-
`spectively 1,3,2 and 4 as shown in FIG. 3 the sum sig-
`nals EA, 2;, EC, and 2,, are respectively 10, -2, 0, and
`-4. Substituting these values in the equations of Table
`3 recovers the values of E1 through E4.
`The summation signals obtained from the apparatus
`could be utilized directly for such applications as pat-
`tern recognition and bandwidth compression. If de-
`sired, the summation signals could be reconstructed by
`
`1032-012
`
`1032-012
`
`

`
`7
`
`4,01 1,442
`
`a signal reconstruction circuit 40 into signals represent-
`ing the charge stored in each of the devices of the
`apparatus. This reconstruction is accomplished . by
`transforming the four equations of Table 2 into the four
`equations of Table 3 in which each of the tenns E., E2,
`E3 and E4 is expressed as a respective algebraic sum of
`the terms 2,4, 23, EC and 20. The summation set forth in
`Table 3 could be obtained by any apparatus which is
`capable of performing the algebraic summations set
`forth in Table 3 of FIG. 7. Signal reconstruction circuit
`40 of FIG. 2 connected to the output of charge sensing
`circuit 32 is such apparatus. A particular advantage of
`simultaneously reading out a summation signal from a
`plurality of devices in accordance with the present
`invention is that the signal to noise ratio of the output
`is enhanced over individual device readout by a factor
`dependent on the number of devices simultaneously
`read out as is apparent from the equation of Table 3.
`The apparatus of FIG. 2 may be operated in a mode
`in which radiation is continuously received and stored
`by the devices 15 of the apparatus. The time for per-
`forming the algebraic summations of the charges stored
`in the devices and obtaining readout is relatively short
`compared to the integration time during which charge
`is being generated and stored in the devices and the
`charge stored in the devices does not change signifi-
`cantly during the readout time. In another mode of
`operation integration of the generated charge would
`take place over a period of time after which radiation
`would be blocked from the devices and readout would
`occur. After readout had taken place, charge would be
`removed by any of a variety of means, for example, by
`raising the potentials of the charge electrodes and the
`summation electrodes to substrate potential to inject
`the stored charge into the substrate and thereafter
`dropping the potential of these electrodes to appropri-
`ate values for storage of radiation generated charge for
`the next cycle of operation of the apparatus.
`Reference is made to FIG. 5 which shows a cross—sec-
`tional view of a single device 42 suitable for substitu-
`tion for the device 15 of FIG. 2. The device of FIG. 5
`is identical to the device shown in FIG. 4 except that
`each of the summation electrodes 43a insulatingly
`overlaps a respective storage electrode 22 to provide
`close coupling between the depletion regions thereof.
`Reference is made to FIG. 6 which shows a sectional
`view of another storage device,45 which may be substi-
`tuted for the storage device 15 of FIG. 2. The device 45 .
`of FIG. 6 is identical to the device of FIG. 4 except that
`the storage electrode and the summation electrode are
`spaced apart and transfer electrode 46 is provided to
`control the transfer of charge between the storage and
`summation sites thereunder. FIG. 6 also shows poten-
`tial wells 47 and 48 produced by the application of
`operating potentials to the electrodes of the device 45.
`In potential well 47 charge is shown as having been
`transferred from the portion 47a of the potential well
`underlying the summation electrode 24a to the portion
`4717 of the potential well underlying the storage elec-
`trode 22 with the potential applied to the transfer elec-
`trode 46 producing a surface potential in the barrier
`region 49 between the summation site and the storge
`site lower than the potential of the bottom of the poten-
`tial well under the summation electrode 24a. In poten-
`tial well 48 charge is shown as having been transferred
`from the portion 48b of the potential well underlying
`the storage electrode to the portion 48a underlying the
`summation electrode 24a with the potential applied to
`
`5
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`55
`
`60
`
`8
`the transfer electrode 46 producing a surface potential
`491: in the barrier region 49 lower than the potential of
`the bottom of the potential well underlying the storage
`electrode 48b. Thus, by switching both the storage
`electrode and the transfer electrode potentials of the
`device above and below the potential of the summation
`electrode, charge may be transferred into and out of
`the storage site underlying the summation electrode.
`Use of the transfer gate electrode allows an additional
`control on the timing of the transfer of charge into and
`out of the summation storage site.
`While the boundaries between the thick and thin
`insulation portions of the apparatus of FIGS. 2-6 has
`been shown as defining boundary edges of the various
`charge storage sites, it is apparent that such boundary
`edges may be provided by regions in the substrate of
`the same conductivity type as the semiconductor sub-
`strate, but of greater conductivity. These regions may
`be formed by such means as ion implantation or diffu-
`sion and are commonly referred to in the art as channel
`stops.
`Reference is now made to FIG. 8 which shows appa-
`ratus 52 in accordance with the present invention uti-
`lizing a two—dimensional array 53 of devices 15 in
`which plurality of linear arrays of devices 15 such as
`shown in FIG. 2 are arranged on a common semicon-
`ductor substrate into a plurality of rows with like num-
`bered or positioned devices 15 of a row lying in a col-
`umn. The summation lines of the rows of devices are
`
`designated X,—X.. Storage electrodes of the devices
`lying in a column are connected to a respective one of
`the column lines Y,—Y4. Each of the column lines
`Y,—Y., are connected to respective terminal point on a
`column selector 54, functionally identical to the stor-
`age electrode selector of FIG. 2. A row selector 55 is
`provided having input
`terminals connected to rows
`lines X,—-X4, respectively. The row selector 55 synchro-
`nized with the clock pulse generator 56 enables selec-
`tive connection of the row lines to the signal processor
`57 which includes circuits such as sensing circuit 32 of
`FIG. 2. Each of the row lines X,—X., may be connected
`under operation of the row selector 55 to the signal
`processor 57 in sequence or simultaneously, as desired,
`depending upon the nature and the order of summation
`of signals representing algebraic sums of the charges in
`each of the rows of devices is desired. Both the column
`selector 54 and the signal processor 57 are under the
`control of the clock pulse generator 56. Operation of
`the system of FIG. 8 will be explained in connection
`with the Tables of FIG. 7. The apparatus 52 may be
`operated in any one of three modes for obtaining l-Iada-
`mard transfonns of the charge stored in each of the
`rows of devices in accordance with the code of Table 1.
`
`In one mode of operation the sum of the charges stored
`in the first row of devices in accordance with the code
`of row A of Table l is obtained by connecting row line
`X,
`to signal processor 57 and applying appropriate
`transfer signals to outputs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the column
`selector 54, as explained above in connection with the
`apparatus of FIG. 2. Thereafter the same summation is
`similarly obtained for rows 2-4 by connecting in se-
`quence row lines X2, X3 and X4 to the signal processor
`and applying appropriate transfer signals to the column
`_lines Y1—Y4. Thereafter the summation indicated in row
`B of Table 1 is performed for each row of devices. This
`is followed by the summation of rows C and D of Table
`l for each of the rows of devices. The signal processor
`57 assembles the information into four complete sets of
`
`1032-013
`
`1032-013
`
`

`
`4,01 1,442
`
`ll)
`
`9
`one-dimensional Hadamard transforms of rows of de-
`vices. The complete Hadamard transform f

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket