Rockwell International Corporation

The Boeing Company

Paul E Green

Margie M Nicholson

Barry T French

A method and apparatus for saving space and components under detectors for staring array systems by timely combining detector inputs to a common photodiode amplifier, including establishing sequential connections from a plurality of detector inputs to a common photodiode amplifier by selecting a single path to the amplifier from each detector input at different times clamping each path to a source of potential to prevent signal transmission over the paths, and releasing said clamping of the path selected to supply the amplifier.

Combining electronically scanned input circuits for reading photodiodes

An apparatus and method for converting a charge packet into digital bit weights. The apparatus comprises a plurality of serially connected charge-coupled cells for receiving the charge packet at one end, such that the charge packet consecutively fills each CCD in the path. Also, a detector is coupled to another end of the CCD's for advancing charge within the CCD's and detecting whether each CCD is filled. A counter coupled to the detector for counting the number of CCD's which are not filled with charge, wherein the number represents a first form of digital bit weights of the charge packet.

Analog to digital converter for charge coupled signals

A device and method for controlling the gain of a charge based signal is described. The described device and method may be used for both offset correction and for gain control. First and second charge holding gates are provided for receiving a charge packet representing a signal. A control gate partitions off at least a portion of the charge on the secondary charge holding gate. The charge not so partitioned off is then transferred onto the output line as the adjusted charge packet representing the adjusted signal, where the gain is now the ratio of areas of first charge holding gate to the sum of areas of both first and second charge holding gates. The offset of a signal can also be corrected by segregating the portion of charge representing the offset of an input signal onto the second charge holding gate.

Gain and offset control for charge based signals

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING INTEGRATION TIME ON MULTIPLEXING STARING ARRAYS for selecting all or any portion of each row integration scan for charging integration capacitors from a scanned staring array by providing a row ON selection clock signal, providing a signal corresponding to all or a portion of the time the row is to be connected to the capacitors, and nanding the row ON signal and the corresponding signal to select the time allotted for charging said capacitors.

Method and apparatus for controlling integration time on multiplexing

A planar matrix of display picture elements is operated by supplying power to the picture elements by a high current planar drive electrode connected to the picture elements, and a planar counter electrode slightly separated from the picture elements' display dots, and by addressing the picture elements with low current leads parallel to the plane of the matrix. The planes of the electrodes are parallel to the plane of the matrix. The elimination of high current power leads improves response time and resolution. The separation of the counter electrode from the display dots eliminates the need to refresh the picture elements. An isolation transistor in series with the drive transistor allows simultaneous color change of the entire matrix by simultaneous turning on and off of all isolation transistors.

Electrochromic display dot drive matrix

A charge based analog to digital converter includes a plurality of charge storage elements, each having a charge receive mode and a charge expel mode, and were in each of the charge storage elements is configured for storing a predetermined amount of charge. There is preferably a two to one ratio between the storage capacity of adjacent charge storage elements. A comparator includes a sensing diffusion connected to all of the charge storage elements. The comparator produces a '0' bit if the sensing diffusion is in a first condition, and a '1' bit if the sensing diffusion is in a second condition. Selection electronics connected to the charge storage elements selectively and successively set the individual charge storage elements in the charge expel mode to successively test the charge quantity stored in each charge storage element by the initial analog charge packet.

Growing community of inventors

La Mirada, CA, United States of America

Paul E Green