Abstract: An electronic circuit (50) for receiving and discriminating modulated light of a specific modulation frequency or within a specific modulation frequency range includes a photodiode detector (52) responsive to light incident thereto for generating an electric current signal. A controllable shunt (54) is connected in parallel with the photodiode detector (52) and is controllable between a first operational mode in which the current is shunted, and a second operational mode in which the current is not shunted. A control circuit (56) is connected to the photodiode detector (52) and the shunt (54) for controlling the controllable shunt (54) into (a) the first operational mode, provided that the current signal does not include a signal of the specific modulation frequency or within the specific modulation frequency range, or (b) the second operational mode, provided that the current signal includes a signal of the specific modulation frequency or within the specific modulation frequency range.

Abstract: A photoelectric transducer having a CMOS constant-current-source circuit which can reduce fixed-pattern noise even if the CMOS constant-current-source circuit and photosensors are formed in the same semiconductor substrate is provided. The photoelectric transducer includes a constant-current-source circuit in which a current mirror circuit including pMOS transistors and a current mirror circuit including nMOS transistors are subjected to tandem connection between power supplies, and a plurality of photosensors formed by a second-conduction-type semiconductor formed near a surface of a first-conduction-type semiconductor substrate. The constant-current-source circuit and the plurality of photosensors are formed on the same semiconductor substrate. A voltage drop circuit is provided at one of tandem connection portions of the current mirror circuits in order to suppress stray carriers present near the plurality of photosensors.

Abstract: A detector array for a laser imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around an opening in which an object to be scanned is disposed; and a variable gain integrator operably connected to each detector to accommodate the dynamic range of each detector. A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of an object being scanned is also disclosed, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around the object to be scanned, including a variable gain amplifier connected to each detector; impinging a laser beam at a point on the object; integrating the input to each integrating amplifier at several time intervals; recording each output at each integration interval for use in image reconstruction; orbiting the detectors and the laser beam to a next point on a circle; and repeating steps until a complete circle has been traversed.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit, referred to as a charge mode capacitor transimpedance amplifier (or CM-CTIA) an input node (IN) and an output node (OUT), and includes a transistor (M.sub.IN) having a gate terminal (G) coupled to the input node, a source terminal (S), and a drain terminal (D) coupled to the output node, a first capacitance (C.sub.FB) coupled between the gate terminal and the drain terminal, a second capacitance (C.sub.S) coupled between the source terminal and a first potential (GND), a third capacitance (C.sub.D) coupled between the drain terminal and the first potential or another fixed potential, a first switch (SW1) coupled between a second potential and the drain terminal, and a second switch (SW2) coupled between a third potential (V.sub.RESET) and the gate terminal. During use, the input node is coupled to an output of a radiation detector, such as a photovoltaic IR detector (12) that forms one element or pixel of an array of IR detectors.

Abstract: Transimpedance amplifiers with improved gain-bandwidth products. The transimpedance amplifiers include a boost current circuit to increase the gain-bandwidth product of the transimpedance device, particularly useful when using low voltage power supplies. The boost current can be made responsive to the input current of the amplifier, better accommodating large input currents. The boost current may also be responsive to the power supply voltage, reducing the boost current with increasing power supply voltage. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: To realize a current-to-voltage conversion IC and a photoelectric conversion IC in which the available frequency range does not become narrower as the conversion gain is increased, in a current-to-voltage conversion IC that has a differential amplifier to which a negative feedback resistor of variable resistance is connected and a photodiode connected to the input terminal of the differential amplifier so that the output current of the photodiode is converted into a voltage by means of the negative feedback resistor, the differential amplifier is provided with a switch for varying the capacitance of a capacitor used as a phase compensating element so that the resistance of the negative feedback resistor and the capacitance of the differential amplifier are varied in an interlocked manner in accordance with a signal fed from outside.

Abstract: A pre-amp circuit including a photodiode, first and second amplifiers and a differential amplifier reduces or eliminates noise in an input signal. The photodiode converts an external optical signal into an electrical signal which includes noise. The first amplifier amplifies the difference between an output voltage of the photodiode, including the noise, and the reference voltage, to generate a difference signal which includes a first noise component. The second amplifier buffers the reference voltage to generate a signal which includes a second noise component which is in-phase with the first noise component. The differential amplifier amplifies the difference between the voltages output from the first and second amplifiers to generate an output signal which is substantially devoid of such noise. The present invention is amenable to application in remote control receiver systems.

Abstract: Managed integration optical sensor array (11) having an array block (12). The array block having a plurality of optical sensors (13), a switch control logic circuit (59) and a bit shift register (60). The switch control logic circuit (59) operating to control the integration periods of each optical sensor (13).

Abstract: An integrated circuit that computes the velocity of a visual stimulus moving between two photoreceptor locations is disclosed. In its most basic version, the circuit comprises two temporal edge detectors with photoreceptors, two pulse-shaping circuits, and one motion circuit on a single silicon chip. Velocity is computed from the signed time delay of the appearance of an image feature at the two photoreceptor locations. Specifically, each temporal edge detector detects a rapid irradiance transient at its photoreceptor location and converts it into a short current spike. This current spike is transformed into two different voltage pulses, a fast pulse and a slowly-decaying pulse, by the pulse-shaping circuit that is coupled to the temporal edge detector.

Abstract: An inverting amplification circuit and a feedback resistor are connected in parallel with each other between an input terminal and an output terminal, so that an input current flowing from a photodiode can be converted into an output voltage. Furthermore, a shunt transistor is disposed with its source connected with the input terminal, its gate connected with the output terminal and its drain connected with a ground power supply. When the input current is large, a current flowing into the feedback resistor is decreased, so that a part of the input current can be shunted by the shunt transistor in accordance with a voltage difference between the input terminal and the output terminal. Thus, the output voltage waveform can be free from ringing.

Abstract: A CMOS imager includes a photosensitive device such as a photosensitive device such as a photodiode or photogate having a sense node coupled to an FET located adjacent to the photosensitive region. Another FET, forming a differential input pair of an operational amplifier is located outside of the array of pixels. The operational amplifier is configured for unity gain and a row or column of input FETs is connected in parallel. A correlated double sampler is connected to the output of the operational amplifier for providing a fixed pattern noise free signal.

Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier in an optical communication system is provided with automatic gain control (AGC) for increasing the input operating range while maintaining high stability. A photodetector is used to convert an optical signal into a differential current for the transimpedance amplifier. An AGC circuit has a gain control device connected across the differential input of the transimpedance amplifier. The gain control device has an impedance that varies as a function of a voltage at the differential output of the transimpedance. Preferably, the gain control device is a FET having a drain coupled to one of the differential inputs, a source coupled to the other differential input, and a gate for receiving an AGC voltage, the AGC voltage being a function of the voltage at the differential output.

Abstract: A receiver includes a first amplifying circuit for amplifying an input signal to thereby output an amplified input signal. A reference voltage generating circuit has the same configuration as the first amplifying circuit and generates a reference signal having a reference voltage for the amplified input signal. A variable-gain amplifying circuit variably adjusts the gain of the level of a signal derived from the amplified input signal and reference signal. The variable-gain amplifying circuit includes a second amplifying circuit for amplifying the amplified input signal and reference signal for maintaining linearity to thereby output a pair of first differential signals and a pair of second differential signals having shifted levels. A first differential amplifier performs differential amplification based on the first differential signals. A second differential amplifier performs differential amplification based on the first differential signals with a higher gain than the first differential amplifier.

Abstract: A semiconductor based image sensor having a timer that is associated with each photosite in the image sensor; and measuring the integration period of that photosite using the timer. Additionally, an imager sensor that does not require an A/D converter but instead uses a comparator circuit to determine when a predetermined threshold has been reached, thus reading as discrete amounts of stored charge which converts directly into a digital representation.

Abstract: A balanced photoreceiver which includes one or more photodiodes coupled to an amplifier that includes a common base configured input stage which operates over a frequency band from DC to millimeter wave frequencies. In one embodiment of the invention, the amplifier is formed as a three-stage direct coupled amplifier which includes a direct coupled complementary common base configured input stage, a complementary common emitter configured Darlington pair intermediate stage and a complementary common collector configured output stage. The common collector configured output stage is used to recombine the complementary current outputs from the input and intermediate stages. The photoreceiver in accordance with the present invention provides relatively superior output waveform symmetry over an increasing power input.

Abstract: A high speed differential optoelectronic receiver comprises a first photodetector responsive to a first incident amplitude modulated optical signal and operative to develop a first electrical signal, a second photodetector responsive to a second incident amplitude modulated optical signal that is complementary to the first optical signal and operative to develop a second electrical signal, and an amplifier having a first input that is responsive to the first electrical signal and a second input that is responsive to the second electrical signal and is operative to provide a differential output signal that is proportional to the difference between the first and the second electrical signals. Also, a method for transforming complementary amplitude modulated optical signals into a complementary electrical output signal is invented.

Abstract: An optical receiver preamplifier provides a transimpedance feedback path between the output node and the input node that comprises a feedback resister and the two diodes are coupled ("paralleled") in opposite direction. While the input current signal is too large, and the voltage reach the diode's threshold voltage. The preamplifier can provide current path passing the signal to solve the problem that charge-discharge time is not uniform and changed over duty-cycle. Further, the two diodes are coupled ("paralleled") in opposite direction make photo-diode working under the large-signal current by anode or cathode input. Thus, increase the dynamic range of the transimpedance preamplifier. Besides, the low impedance of series resistance connects with input node and feedback network. The influence of bandwidth and stability that the aforementioned two paralleled diodes resulted in diode junction capacitor will reduce due to the low impedance of series resistance.

Abstract: A capacitive transducer which converts impulses of absorbed energy into impulses of electronic charge, combined with a unity-gain, non-inverting amplifier and an integrating capacitor which is substantially smaller than the transducer capacitance, further combined with a transconductance amplifier, comprises a simple and compact radiation detector probe. The detector probe, connected to a signal-receiving assembly through a shielded cable, comprises a useful apparatus for detecting and amplifying weak impulses of energy absorbed from X-ray photons, gamma-ray photons, or nuclear charged particles.

Abstract: A light detection system is provided including a switching circuit connected to an inductor shunted across a photoelectric cell and operative to switch between a light detection state and a charge storage state, wherein the light detection state causes a majority of current flowing through the inductor to bypass the charge storage circuit, and wherein the charge storage state causes a majority of current flowing through the inductor to pass through the charge storage circuit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the switching circuit is changed to the light detection state during a first period of time during which the laser beam is in the vicinity of the photoelectric cell and to the charge storage state during a second period of time during which the laser beam is remote from the photoelectric cell.

Abstract: A high sensitivity active pixel for use in MOS image sensor circuits. The pixel circuit design allows the use of digital MOS fabrication processes to be used in implementing a pixel circuit having greater sensitivity (allowing increased frame rate) and greater noise immunity than certain prior art pixels. The novel pixel features a source follower configured amplifier, such as a single MOS FET, coupled between a photodetector and a storage capacitor. A light-generated signal from the photodetector is used to control the charge placed in the storage capacitor in order to develop a capture voltage. In a particular embodiment, an n-channel source follower and a p-channel output stage are combined in the pixel to make the overall transfer function of the pixel more linear and distortion-free.

Abstract: To measure the optical power level of light from an object to be measured, a bias section applies to a photo-detecting section such a reverse bias voltage as makes the current multiplication factor M almost zero to prevent the output current from flowing, and then applies such a reverse bias voltage as makes the M one or more to allow the output current to flow. A processing section determines an offset level from the output of a direct-current amplifying section during an offset data acquisition period that the M is almost zero. The time T0 from when the bias section applies to the photo-detecting section such a reverse bias voltage as makes the M one or more to when the reverse bias voltage is applied to make the M almost zero is determined to be a measurement state. The processing section measures the optical power with a clock faster than time T0.

Abstract: In an infrared data-receiving circuit wherein an output electric current of a photodiode is current-to-voltage converted by a preamplifier and, after having been amplified by an amplification circuit, is subjected to a waveform-shaping operation in a comparator by using a predetermined threshold value, the threshold voltage, upon receipt of a low signal voltage, is set at the average value Vav that has been formed by two LPFs and, upon receipt of a high signal voltage, is also set at a shift value that has been obtained by allowing the voltage, which has been generated by shifting of a level shift circuit, to be sampled by a peak-hold circuit constituted of a differential amplifier. Thus, the apparatus is allowed to deal with a wide dynamic range. Moreover, in this arrangement, a single capacitor may be commonly used for an integrating operation in the LPFs and for a holding operation in the peak-hold circuit so as to provide a simple construction that is preferably applied to an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier according to the present invention is designed for high-speed fiber optic communications. The transimpedance amplifier preferably includes an input stage, a second stage and a bias generator. The input stage is operably coupled to the second stage and has an input impedance. The second stage has an output impedance. The bias generator is operably coupled to the input stage and the second stage, and operates to bias the input stage and second stage such that the input impedance substantially matches the output impedance. In this manner, the input and output impedances of a transimpedance amplifier of a fiber optics communication receiver are controllable to a desired impedance for interfacing with a transmission line.

Abstract: A bias voltage supply circuit for an optical receiver includes a high-voltage generation circuit, a current detection circuit, a reference voltage generation circuit, and an operational amplifier. The high-voltage generation circuit supplies a variable bias voltage to an APD having an amplification function. The current detection circuit converts an output current, which is based on the bias voltage supplied from the high-voltage generation circuit, into a voltage signal. The reference voltage generation circuit outputs a constant reference voltage. The operational amplifier outputs a voltage control signal, corresponding to a difference between an output voltage from the current detection circuit and the reference voltage from the reference voltage generation circuit, to the high-voltage generation circuit, thereby variably controlling the bias voltage to be supplied to the photoelectric converting element.

Abstract: Active integrator optical sensor (13) having a photodetector (56) and an active integrator circuit. The active integrator circuit having an operational amplifier (50), an integrating capacitor (51) an offset capacitor (54) and a store capacitor (52). The active integrator circuit operating to integrate the electrical signal from photodetector (56).

Abstract: Color optical sensor array (11) having a color optical sensor (13) with each color optical sensor (13) having a color photodetector (56) and an active integrator circuit. The active integrator circuit having an operational amplifier (50) and an integrating capacitor (51), the active integrator circuit operating to integrate and normalize the electrical signal from color photodetector (56).

Abstract: A photosensitive detector (1) for detecting luminous flashes (2) is provided with a photosensitive diode (3) which is linked to a positive voltage and to ground via a resistor R1 and which is capable of transforming the luminous flashes into electrical signals and a circuit (4) that processes the electrical signals generated by the photosensitive diode (3). The circuit (4) causes electrical signals which correspond to luminous flashes (2) received by the photosensitive diode (3) and which exhibit a fast rise time to be strengthened, and the circuit (4) causes electrical signals which correspond to luminous flashes (2) received by the photosensitive diode (3) and which vary more slowly in intensity to be attenuated. The circuit (4) is linked directly to the photosensitive diode (3) and includes a differentiator circuit.

Abstract: Output current of light receiving element Dph is converted into a voltage by a core amplification section, and the voltage output is extracted as an amplification output through an outputting circuit section. The output voltage is fed back to the base of transistor T2 of a differential circuit of the core amplification section, by which it is compared with base reference voltage Vref of transistor T1. When the input current is low, the gain of the core amplification section is dominated by the product of the current flowing through transistor T2 and resistor R4, but when the input current is high, the gain is dominated by the product of current flowing through transistor T1 and resistor R3. Consequently, if resistor R3 is set lower than resistor R4, then when the input current is high, the gain margin indicating a degree of stability of the feedback circuit can be made large, and this stabilizes operation of the front-end amplification circuit.

Abstract: A photoelectric cell having a receiving section fitted with an amplifier processing circuit for making the cell immune to electrical disturbances. The processing circuit uses a transfer impedance amplifier A having a gain loop 24 which is shunted by a short-circuit path 24A including a switch T1 controlled by the transmission signal E1. The switch T1 conducts when no pulses are delivered from the transmission signal E1 and does not conduct when pulses are received from the transmission signal E1.

Abstract: The input of a source-follower, or equivalent amplifier sub-circuit, utilizing a low-transconductance, low-reverse-leakage, low-capacitance, junction field-effect transistor, with its gate-source junction forward biased, is directly connected to the input of a charge-integrating preamplifier. This provides an attractive alternative to a high-ohm resistor which is typically used as a discharge element in low-noise charge-integrating preamplifiers in nuclear-particle, x-ray, and gamma-ray spectroscopy.

Abstract: A control system for controlling an image array sensor and controlling communication between the image array sensor and a microcontroller by way of a serial communication interface. The control system is able to efficiently control various aspects of the image array sensor such as windowing, mode of operation, sensitivity as well as other parameters in order to reduce the data throughput. An important aspect of the invention relates to the fact that the control circuit can be rather easily and efficiently configured in CMOS with rerlatively few output pins which enables the control circuit to be rather easily and efficiently intergrated with CMOS based image array sensors and even the microcontroller to reduce the part count and thus, the overall cost of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a varying impedance point in a circuit corresponding to a frequency of an input signal applied to the apparatus. Device sizes of the apparatus can be selected to provide varying impedance for desired frequency ranges.

Abstract: A photo detector circuit comprises a photodiode for detecting a reflected light beam from an optical recording medium and converting the light beam to a current output, and a current-voltage converter for converting the output current of the photodiode to a proportional voltage. In this circuit, the output current of the photodiode is inputted via a current mirror circuit to the current-voltage converter, so that the S/N is improved and the entire circuit can be formed into a single chip to thereby decrease the number of external elements with another advantage of dimensional reduction.

Abstract: A photo diode is connected to an input terminal of an amplifier to which a feedback resistor is connected. An output current of this photo diode flows from the output terminal side of the amplifier through the feedback resistor. The output of the photo diode converted into a voltage is given to the output terminal side of the amplifier. The feedback resistor is formed by a P-type resistor region provided in an N-type resistor land of a semiconductor substrate. In order to apply an inverse bias to the PN junction between the resistor land and resistor region, the resistor land is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier.

Abstract: A self-aligned bipolar transistor which has a small base resistance and small emitter-base and collector-base capacitances and is operable at high speed is disclosed. This bipolar transistor is characterized in that a low concentration collector region made of single crystal Si--Ge is self-alignedly formed between an intrinsic base of single crystal Si--Ge and an intrinsic base, and that an extrinsic base electrode and an intrinsic base are connected only through a doped external base. With this arrangement, an energy barrier is not established at the collector base interface owing to the formation of the low concentration region of single crystal Si--Ge, so that the transit time of the carriers charged from the emitter is shortened. The connection between the intrinsic base and the extrinsic base electrode via the doped external base results in the reduction of the base resistance.

Abstract: An active pixel image cell which includes a photosensor and an embedded memory element and may be used to produce signals corresponding to the photosensor outputs for successive frames. The structure of the active pixel cell includes an analog, non-volatile, or dynamic memory element and the control elements needed to store the output of the photosensor generated during a previous frame. The pixel elements then generate a signal representing the current frame output of the photosensor. The current frame output and previous frame output are then provided as output signals for the pixel and may be subjected to off-pixel processing as desired. For example, the two values may be subtracted from one another by an off-pixel difference amplifier to form a signal representing the difference between the image on the photodiode sensor of the pixel between successive frames. The difference signal may then be used for purposes of video compression, motion detection, or image stabilization.

Abstract: A detector for use in a combustion system includes a probe having a tip adapted for placement through a singular aperture in the mixing area of a combustion system. First and second channels are derived from the probe output and are used to detect a flashback or flameout condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring very low light signals including integrating a signal from a photo diode, avalanche photo diode, photomultiplier tube or the like, digitally sampling the integrator output more than two times during each integration period, fitting a curve to the multiple digitized readings to calculate the integration slope for each integration period and determining the original signal from the calculated integration slope.

Abstract: A high temperature photocurrent detector circuit including a transimpedance amplifier having multiple stages of gain, and a driver amplifier which generates a driver current that is proportional to the photocurrent flowing through a photocurrent sensor. The voltage source utilizes source voltage wires to generate a supply current that is proportional to the driver current enabling the photocurrent detector circuit to operate as a two wire photocurrent detector circuit.

Abstract: A self adjusting tuned resonant photodiode input circuit wherein an active feedback signal adjusts a reverse bias voltage across a photodiode to tune a resonant frequency to a center frequency. This results in a stable improved passband of the receiver front end.

Abstract: When a third transistor receives first photoelectric currents outputted from a sensing photodiode, the third transistor provides second photoelectric currents to bases of a first transistor and a second transistor, then the first transistor turns on and carries the first photoelectric currents, so first currents corresponding to the first photoelectric currents flow to a first terminal. Thus, the first photoelectric currents can be directly outputted from the first terminal. On the other hand, the second transistor also turns on and carries second currents corresponding to amplified first photoelectric currents, so the second currents flow to a third terminal. Thus, the amplified first photoelectric currents can be outputted from the third terminal.

Abstract: Known is an optical receiver (4) in which first a received broadband optical signal is converted to a broadband electric signal by means of a optoelectric converter (49) comprising a transimpedance amplifier, and thereafter a channel is selected from the converted broadband signal by means of a tuner which is coupled to the transimpedance amplifier. Such a configuration is not optimal in fulfilling noise and bandwidth requirements. An optical receiver (4) for subcarrier multiplexed optical signals is proposed which has a tunable frequency selective front-end section (30) that is directly coupled to a photodiode (49) as an optoelectric converter so as to selectively pass a tuned channel from the received subcarrier multiplexed optical signal to a succeeding amplifier (36; 61).

Abstract: An optical tracker system comprises an optical sensor 1 and associated signal processing circuitry 12, 24 for conditioning signals output from the sensor and rejecting signal indicative of false sensor information. A signal rejection circuit 24 comprises a guard time monostable 28 arranged to generate a guard time pulse defining a guard time when a pulse is input from the sensor 1, an output monostable 35 arranged to generate an output pulse in response to the guard time pulse, and an output suppress monostable 30 arranged to suppress the output monostable 35 when a false signal condition occurs during the guard time.

Abstract: A proximity detector including a rapid transistor (i.e., one having a very high product gain-band) connected to a high potential voltage via a capacitor. The capacitor is connected in series to a source of a pulsed current that is a function of the proximity of an object. The capacitor is also connected to a low potential voltage via an RC circuit. The mid-point of the RC circuit is connected to the collector of a transistor connected to the high potential voltage by a collector resistor in parallel with a gain resistor of the amplifier.

Abstract: An ultra-low noise, high gain interface circuit for single-photon readout of known photodetectors from the x-ray to long IR bands at video frame rates. The detector current modulate's a load FET's gate-to-source voltage, which in turn modulates the gate-to-source voltage of a gain FET thereby producing a signal current that is an amplified facsimile of the detector current. The load FET's gate-to-source voltage is connected in the negative feedback loop of a low noise, high gain amplifier. This effectively reduces the resistance seen by the photodetector by the gain of the amplifier thereby reducing the interface circuit's RC time constant by the same amount. Because the amplifier pins the load FET's gate voltage for a given flux level, the load FET's 1/f noise is transferred to the amplifier thereby enabling single-photon readout sensitivity.

Abstract: An automatic threshold control circuit includes a bottom detection circuit, a relative peak detection circuit, and a voltage divider circuit. The bottom detection circuit detects an absolute minimum level of an input signal, and the relative peak detection circuit detects, in accordance with the input signal, a maximum level relative to the minimum level detected by the absolute bottom detection circuit. Further, the voltage divider circuit generates a threshold level by dividing the absolute minimum level and the relative maximum level in a predetermined ratio. Using this configuration, a signal amplifying circuit can be constructed that is capable of accurately reproducing digital signals at all times regardless of variations in the amplitude or the DC level of the input signal.

Abstract: A portable, low cost, laser detection system which generates an alarm signal that can be used to produce visual and/or audible warnings indicating the range, location and type laser energy detected. Such laser detection system utilizes a cooperating quadraplex sensor assembly, to provide a complete 360 degree laser detection coverage, mounted on a helmet assembly which includes a helmet shell, a cushioned impact liner coextensive with the interior surface of the helmet shell and a suspended crown support liner the combination of which provides enhanced protection of the user and stabilization of the laser detection system.

Abstract: An optical receiver communication system converts optical signals modulated by analog or digital waveforms to RF signals. The optical receiver contains an automatic level control circuit to adjust the electronic gain of the system across a broad bandwidth spectrum. Two impedance matching circuits are designed using broad band matching technique to expand the bandwidth for increasing the maximum receivable frequencies to 1 GHz. A RLC impedance matching circuit forms a resonant combination to maintain .+-.1 dB fluctuation between the low-and-high-frequency limits of the bandwidth, and a 75.OMEGA. impedance matching circuit creates a 180.degree. phase shift between outgoing and incoming signals to ensure low return loss.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises driver transistors 23.sub.1 through 23.sub.n and load transistors 24.sub.1 through 24.sub.n. The imaging device has a switch switching output of the driver transistor 23n-1 to output terminal Vout 2 or to the driver transistor 23n as an output signal.

Abstract: A method for transferring signals from a photoreceiver array to computational circuitry in which parallel transfer amplifiers receive periodic offset correction. In a first embodiment, each transfer amplifier has a differential circuit that can be switched from a reset mode to a readout mode. In the readout mode, the voltage state at the output is responsive to first and second inputs, with the second input being connected to a source of a reference voltage. In the reset mode, the inputs are both connected to the reference voltage and the output is temporarily connected to a source of a fixed reset voltage. An offset adjustment signal is generated in response to detection of a voltage difference between the reset voltage and the actual voltage state at the output after the output has been disconnected from the source of the reset voltage. A single offset circuit is used to periodically and sequentially refresh the various transfer amplifiers.