Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Richard W Ralston

Ernest R Stern

Barry E Burke

Daniel L Smythe, Jr

Richard S Withers

An optical imaging system for use as a solid-state camera, for example, which includes a plurality of solid-state elements for providing long-term storage of images, such elements being, for example, MNOS chips having a plurality of storage cells, which chips when exposed to an image focussed thereon can store a representation thereof. The chips are at a later time optically addressed, as by a scanning-light beam, to read out the stored image so as to provide an electrical output representing the stored image, such output being usable to provide a visual representation of the image such as on a display screen or in hard copy form.

Solid state imaging technique

A solid state device capable of providing long-term storage of analog signals which in a particular embodiment utilizes a plurality of MNOS storage elements. An input analog signal is applied to a plurality of temporary storage means each associated with an MNOS storage element for temporarily storing a charge proportional to the amplitude of the portion of the input analog signal applied thereto. Storage control means are used to transfer the temporarily stored charges to the long-term MNOS storage elements so that controlled amounts of carrier charges are stored in the nitride layers thereof, such controlled amounts being substantially linearly proportional to the temporarily stored charges associated therewith. In a particular embodiment the input analog signal may be supplied via a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device and coupled to the MNOS device directly or it may be coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) and then coupled to the MNOS device.

Analog solid state memory

A solid state device capable of providing long-term storage of analog signals which in a particular embodiment utilizes a plurality of MNOS storage elements. An input analog signal is applied to a plurality of temporary storage means each associated with an MNOS storage element for temporarily storing a charge proportional to the amplitude of the portion of the input analog signal applied thereto. Storage control means are used to transfer the temporarily stored charges to the long-term MNOS storage elements so that controlled amounts of carrier charges are stored in the nitride layers thereof, such controlled amounts being substantially linearly proportional to the temporarily stored charges associated therewith. In a particular embodiment the input analog signal may be supplied via a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device and coupled to the MNOS device directly or it may be coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) and thence coupled to the MNOS device.

A solid state device combining the use of a surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) device and a charge-coupled device (CCD) which utilizes an interface means therebetween comprising a plurality of conductive fingers responsive to an acoustic wave on the SAW device. The conductive fingers are electrically connected at at least one end to the CCD substrate and a plurality of temporary storage means are used for temporarily storing a charge proportional to the voltage potential on the associated conductive finger. The temporary stored charges can be transferred to the storage wells of the CCD for storing a replica of the acoustic wave. The SAW-CCD combination is adapted for use as a buffer memory, an accumulating correlator, or as a matched filter device.

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Bedford, MA, United States of America

Richard W Ralston