Abstract: A semiconductor imager device is arranged for receiving a series of charge packets. It comprises a charge-to-voltage conversion circuit for receiving the charge packets on a reception capacitance and has an interconnected arrangement of a floating diffusion, a first reset gate, a reset drain and a source follower for readout. In particular, the device has a series arrangement of at least the first reset gate as a proximate reset gate and furthermore a distal reset gate, wherein in a high-gain configuration the proximate reset gate is cyclically controlled and the distal reset gate is continuously on, thus limiting the reception capacitance to a relatively low value. Alternatively, in a low-gain configuration the proximate reset gate is continuously on, thus extending the capacitance to a relatively high value and the distal reset gate replaces the proximate reset gate as being cyclically controlled for conversion of the series of charge packets.

Abstract: A device and method for continuous vertical clocking a charge-coupled device image sensor operating in a time delay and integration and binning mode of operation is disclosed. The method includes providing a charge-coupled device image sensor with a continuous charge transfer signal to a vertical charge-coupled device register for shifting charge continuously to more closely approximate the speed of movement of the target object of capture by the image sensor in order to eliminate artifacts in the TDI imaging direction. The control module of the CCD image sensor provides the continuous charge transfer signal to the vertical charge-coupled device register.

Abstract: A plural line CMOS sensor array device is provided with sensor cells arranged in a matrix of coordinate-wise rows and columns. Each cell comprises a photosensitive area, an output node, and a transfer gate for selectively interconnecting the photosensitive area and the output node. Along at least a first coordinate direction adjacent cells are functionally configured as mutually mirror-symmetric structures in that their proximate output nodes are facing each other and are arranged for separately feeding a respective output channel. Preferably, also in a second coordinate direction adjacent cells are functionally configured as mutually mirror-symmetric structures in that their proximate output nodes are facing each other and all such facing output nodes are separately feeding a respective column-directed output channel.

Abstract: A method of sealing a package includes plating a perimeter of a hole formed in a package and attaching a solder film to the plated perimeter, the solder film covering the hole. The method further includes assembling a device in the package and sealing the package to define an interior and an outside, the device being contained within the interior. Next, the method includes heating the assembled package in a vacuum oven to a predetermined temperature where the solder film bonds to the plated perimeter, evacuating the vacuum oven to form a vacuum until the solder film fractures as a gas contained in the interior escapes to the outside, and further heating the assembled package in the vacuum oven after the gas in the interior escapes to the outside and until the solder film re-melts and seals over the hole.

Abstract: A method of using a line-scan sensor device to scan an image includes determining and removing. The device includes sensor cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The determining includes determining when a pixel signal value from a pixel in a first row and in a column deviates from a pixel signal value from a pixel in a second row and in said column. The removing includes removing the pixel signal value of the pixel in the first row and in said column when the pixel signal value from the pixel in the first row and in said column deviates from the pixel signal value from the pixel in the second row and in said column. The pixel in the first row and in said column images a portion of the image and the pixel in the second row and in said column images the same portion of the image.

Abstract: An assembly includes a first packaged device that contains a first image sensor having first fiducial marks thereon. On a portion of the first packaged device at a predetermined location relative to the first fiducial marks is adhesive, and a first connection body is fixed within the adhesive and registered at the predetermined location relative to the first fiducial marks. The first connection body is mated into the first counter hole formed in a plate at a predetermined location.

Abstract: A method of capturing a color image includes steps of operating a first sensor of a camera to integrate a first charge over a first time interval, operating a second sensor of the camera to integrate a second charge over a second time interval and scanning the first and second sensors to readout the respective first and second charges during a third time interval. The first time interval overlaps the second time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the first time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the second time interval.

Abstract: A sensor includes control circuitry and a pixel. The pixel includes a photo site, a first storage node and a second storage node. The control circuitry causes the pixel to transfer a first collected signal from the photo site to the first storage node during a first period, to transfer a second collected signal from the photo site to the second storage node during a second period that follows the first period, and to transfer the first and second collected signals out of the pixel during a third period that follows the second period.

Abstract: An active gate includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, a channel of a second conductivity type formed in the substrate, a first gate region of the first conductivity type formed in a corresponding first portion of the channel, and a first contact connected to the first gate region. The first gate region covers a first area, and the first contact covers a fraction of the first area. A pixel or register element includes an active gate, a second gate region of the first conductivity type formed in a corresponding second portion of the channel, and a second contact connected to the second gate region. The second gate region covers a second area and is spaced by a first gap from the first gate region. The second contact covers a fraction of the second area. The pixel or register element further includes a first gate electrode insulatively spaced from and disposed over the first gap.

Abstract: A TDI sensor includes a first readout register and a plurality of sensor columns. The first readout register includes a plurality of first readout register elements. A first sensor column includes a photogate and a diode photodetector at an end. The diode photodetector is either a photodiode or a pinned photodiode. The photogate is coupled through the diode photodetector and from there through a transfer gate to a corresponding readout register element.

Abstract: A method of capturing a color image includes steps of operating a first sensor of a camera to integrate a first charge over a first time interval, operating a second sensor of the camera to integrate a second charge over a second time interval and scanning the first and second sensors to readout the respective first and second charges during a third time interval. The first time interval overlaps the second time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the first time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the second time interval.

Abstract: A camera includes a first sensor disposed to image light that propagates along a reflected axis, a second sensor disposed to image light that propagates along a direct axis, and a rotatable structure disposed to define a rotation plane that is oblique to both the reflected axis and the direct axis. The rotatable structure includes either a first transmission sector, a first reflection sector disposed adjacent to the first transmission sector, a second transmission sector disposed adjacent to the first reflection sector and a second reflection sector disposed adjacent to the second transmission sector or the rotatable structure includes a first reflection sector, a first opaque sector disposed adjacent to the first reflection sector, and a first transmission sector disposed adjacent to the first opaque sector.

Abstract: A sensor includes an array of pixels organized in rows and columns and a plurality of metal busses overlaying the array of pixels. A first column of pixels includes a proximal set of first pixels and a distal set of first pixels separated by a first jog region. A second column of pixels includes a proximal set of second pixels and a distal set of second pixels separated by a second jog region. The first jog region is displaced in a column direction and in a lateral direction transverse to the column direction from the second jog region. A first metal bus is insulatively disposed over both the first and second jog regions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a source of spectral light indicative of a sample to be measured, a camera to sense a spectrum, and a chromatic dispersion device to spatially separate light from the sample to be measured into the spectrum. The camera includes a sensor and control circuitry. The sensor is one of a CCD line sensor and a CCD TDI sensor. The sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a conversion node, a readout register coupled to the conversion node and a reset gate coupled to the conversion node. The control circuitry is capable of shifting the readout register to transfer charges onto the conversion node and capable of controlling the reset gate to reset the conversion node at varying intervals enabling the conversion node to integrate charges from a varying number of elements of the readout register.

Abstract: A pixel includes five transistors, a photodetector and a storage node. A first transistor is coupled between the photodetector and the storage node. A second transistor includes a second transistor source and a second transistor drain. The second transistor source is coupled to the storage node. The second transistor drain is coupled to an output drain voltage. A third transistor includes a third transistor drain. The third transistor is coupled between the photodetector and a pixel reset voltage. The third transistor drain is coupled to the pixel reset voltage. The pixel reset voltage is different than the output drain voltage.

Abstract: A circuit includes a circuit chip and a plurality of clock drivers external to the circuit chip. The circuit chip includes a plurality of isolated clocking subunits and a corresponding plurality of terminals. Each clocking subunit is electrically isolated from any other clocking subunit. Each clocking subunit is coupled to a respective terminal. For each of the plurality of terminals, an output from one and only one clock driver of the plurality of clock drivers is coupled to the corresponding terminal of the plurality of terminals, and inputs of all clock drivers are coupled together.

Abstract: A method includes a first step followed by a second step. The first step includes transferring photo charges in a delay register into a first readout register, transferring photo charges in a first storage register into the delay register, and transferring photo charges in a second storage register into a second readout register. The second step includes collecting photo charges in the first storage register, collecting photo charges in the second storage register, shifting photo charges in the first readout register toward a first output, and shifting photo charges in the second readout register toward a second output.

Abstract: A column slice of a CMOS TDI sensor includes a column bus, a column of pixels, plural first switches, a column of accumulators, plural second switches, plural third switches and output bus 39. Each of the plural first switches is coupled between the column bus and a corresponding pixel of the column of pixels, and each of the plural second switches is coupled between the column bus and a corresponding accumulator of the column of accumulators. In operation, only one switch at a time of plural first switches is “on” to connect the voltage signal from a corresponding pixel to the column bus while all remaining plural first switches are “off” to isolate the column bus from all remaining pixels. Only one of the plural second switches is “on” to connect the signal on the column bus to an accumulator while all remaining plural second switches are “off” to isolate the bus from all remaining accumulators.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor and a bundle of optical fibers. The bundle of optical fibers has a first end and a second end. The bundle of optical fibers at the first end extends in a first fiber direction and defines a first section plane that is normal to the first fiber direction. The first end defines a first end plane that is obliquely oriented with respect to the first section plane. The bundle of optical fibers at the second end extends in a second fiber direction and defines a second section plane that is normal to the second fiber direction. The second end defines a second end plane that is obliquely oriented with respect to the second section plane. The sensor is disposed in a confronting relation with the second end.

Abstract: An encoder includes a linear offset amplifier, a linear analog to digital converter coupled to the linear offset amplifier, a switched offset amplifier, a switched analog to digital converter coupled to the switched offset amplifier, and a video controller. The video controller is coupled to both the linear and switched analog to digital converters. The video controller is configured to set both gains and offsets of the linear and switched analog to digital converters so that the gain and offset of the linear analog to digital converter is different than the gain and offset of the switched analog to digital converter.