Abstract: A CCD has a floating diffusion for receiving charge packets to be sensed, a reset diffusion connected to a reference potential level and a reset channel region between the floating diffusion and the reset diffusion. A first reset gate is positioned over a first segment of the reset channel region for controlling the conductivity of the first segment in accordance with the potential of the first reset gate, and a second reset gate is positioned over a second segment of the reset channel region between the first reset gate and the reset diffusion for controlling the conductivity of the second segment in accordance with the potential of the second reset gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a back side illuminated CCD, is fabricated by forming an insulating layer over the front side of a body of semiconductor material, depositing a layer of high resistivity material over the front side of the insulating layer, patterning a portion of the layer of high resistivity material to form a long and narrow trace, and attaching a support member to the front side of the insulating layer. In the case of a back side illuminated CCD, the patterning of the layer of high resistivity material advantageously forms a long and narrow trace substantially confined to a peripheral area of the front side of the insulating layer and the semiconductor material is removed from the corresponding peripheral area of the back side of the insulating layer, leaving a plateau of semiconductor material that does not extend over the area that contains the long and narrow trace.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device structure comprises a semiconductor plateau containing an active region subjacent its front side, an electrode structure at the front side of the plateau, and an insulating layer surrounding the semiconductor plateau. A front side bus at the front side of the insulating layer is connected to the electrode structure. The front side bus extends over an elongate aperture in the insulating layer and is connected through the aperture to a back side bus over substantially the entire length of the front side bus.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device structure comprises a semiconductor plateau containing an active region subjacent its front side, an electrode structure at the front side of the plateau, and an insulating layer surrounding the semiconductor plateau. A front side bus at the front side of the insulating layer is connected to the electrode structure. The front side bus extends over an elongate aperture in the insulating layer and is connected through the aperture to a back side bus over substantially the entire length of the front side bus.

Abstract: A CCD comprises a sensing array and a readout register extending adjacent an edge of the sensing array. The readout register has first and second rows of transfer cells. The first row of transfer cells is between the sensing array and the second row. The transfer cells of the first row are of lower capacity than the transfer cells of the second row and are separated from the transfer cells of the second row by a potential barrier.

Abstract: The disclosed device and system enables the cell-based amplification of photo-e The disclop41 The detection device is realized by overlaying an amplifying semi-conductor structure, generally referred to as avalanche photo-diodes, on top of a typical prior-art charge coupled device structure. The disclosed arrangement is a hybrid of these two technologies with certain provisions which allow the two prior art technologies to function properly as a single integrated unit.

Abstract: A light shield for a back-side thinned CCD has an aluminum reflective layer over the imaging surface of the CCD with a vanadium barrier layer between the aluminum reflective layer and the imaging surface. An optional oxide layer may be formed between the reflective and barrier layers.