Multi-tapped bi-directional ccd readout register

Abstract

A bi-directional multi-tapped CCD sensor readout structure includes a well formed in a substrate, a channel formed in the well defining a channel direction, and a clocking structure disposed over the channel and oriented transversely to the channel direction. The clocking structure includes a plurality of register element sets. A first register element set includes a first floating sensing conductor and a plurality of clock signal conductors. The plurality of clock signal conductors includes a first clock signal conductor under which is defined a first junction at the electrical semiconductor junction between the well and the substrate and a second junction at the electrical semiconductor junction between the channel and the well. The first and second junctions define an inter-junction separation. The well is formed in the substrate and the channel is formed in the well so that a length of the inter-junction separation is controllable by a first clock signal applied to the first clock signal electrode. A clock signal source provides to the first clock signal conductor a first clock signal as either a clock high value, a clock low value and a reset value, the clock low value being a value between the clock high value and the reset value. The length of the inter-junction separation is zero when the first clock signal is the reset value.