US PATENT SUBCLASS 257 / 239-- .~.~ Signal charge detection type (e.g., floating diffusion or floating gate non-destructive output)

US PATENT SUBCLASS 257 / 239
.~.~ Signal charge detection type (e.g., floating diffusion or floating gate non-destructive output)

Current as of: June, 1999
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257 /	HD	ACTIVE SOLID-STATE DEVICES (E.G., TRANSISTORS, SOLID-STATE DIODES)

213	DF	FIELD EFFECT DEVICE {6}
215	DF	.~ Charge transfer device {11}
239		.~.~ Signal charge detection type (e.g., floating diffusion or floating gate non-destructive output)

DEFINITION

Classification: 257/239

Signal charge detection type (e.g., floating diffusion or floating gate non-destructive output):

(under subclass 215) Subject matter wherein means is provided to detect the amount of charge being transferred in the device.

(1) Note. The charge being transferred may be measured without destroying the charge, i.e., the charge packet remains intact.

(2) Note. The charge transfer device may have a region diffused with impurity ions not electrically connected to ground to detect the magnitude of charge being transferred in the device and to output a signal proportional to that sensed charge. This is known as a floating diffusion output device. One example of such a device is a floating diffusion amplifier (FDA).

(3) Note. The charge transfer device may have a control electrode not electrically connected to ground to detect the magnitude of charge being transferred in the device and to output a signal proportional to that sensed charge. This type device is known as a floating gate output device. One example of such a device is a floating gate amplifier (FGA). Devices with plural floating gate outputs include distributed floating gate amplifiers (DFGA).