The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 20, 2000
Fuyuki Okamoto, Tokyo, JP;
NEC Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A hierarchical readout circuit includes a plurality of first capacitors for respectively interposed in a plurality of lines at which individual voltages are developed. Before the individual voltages appear at the lines, the inputs of the first capacitors are simultaneously biased at least once, and the outputs of the first capacitors are simultaneously biased. The output of each of the first capacitors is selectively biased again in the presence of the individual voltages at the lines. A plurality of buffers are connected in stages in a hierarchical configuration to the outputs of the first capacitors. Scanning circuitry selectively couples the output of a lower-stage buffer to a higher-stage buffer via a second capacitor. The output of the second capacitor is first biased before the individual voltages appear at the lines and then at periodic intervals before each first capacitor is selectively biased again.