CCD image detector and method of operating a CCD as an image detector

摘要

A CCD image detector includes an image area array, a storage area array, a buffer area array, and a readout shift register, all of which being controlled by a timing controller through separate and independent clock signals. The timing controller controls the transfer of the charge content of an image from the image area array to the storage area array and batch transfers of the charge content of the image from the storage area array to the buffer area array in bands of adjacent rows of gates. Between such batch transfers of bands, the timing controller controls the transfer of the charge content of the band stored in the buffer area array to the readout shift register one row of gates at a time at a slow rate to permit the charge content of each row to be shifted out from the readout register. The batch transfers of bands has the effect of minimizing slow rate transfers from the storage area array which reduces the impact of degraded charge transfer efficiency on performance of the image detector.