US3859518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ccd light change monitor for sensing movement etc.
Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1974-01-07
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1994-01-07
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for sensing changes in ambient light conditions including a charge-coupled device (''''CCD'''') which is capable of both sensing the amount of incident light upon the device as well as storing, in the form of charge, an amount of charge proportional to such incident light; an inverter coupled across the charge-coupled device between input and output for inverting the charge as it serially passes through the inverter between the output and the input of the CCD; and a timer for initiating the transfer of charge from the storage portion of the CCD through the inverter, and back to the same cells of the array from which the charge had previously been shifted out; and a detector for detecting the resulting summation of the charges in the storage portion of each cell of the array to see whether the net result of the addition of the negative of the previous charge (which is proportinal to the incident light during the previous time interval) to the new charge (which is proportional to the incident light during a second exposure in a later time interval) produces a difference, indicating a change in the scene.
Inventors
- 👤 Wendell B Sander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:13
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/4204; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
319 words
Apparatus for sensing changes in ambient light conditions comprising: a charge-coupled device for image sensing having an array of cells having at least one row or column, each of said cells having a light-sensitive portion which provides an output signal in the form of an electrical charge, the magnitude of which is dependent upon the amount of light incident upon said first portion, and a storage portion which stores the charge from said first portion, said array having serial input and output means; means for exposing each of said light-sensitive portions of each of said cells to incident light; an inverter means series-coupled between said output means and said input means of said array, said inverter means inverting the charge stored in the storage portion of each cell to a charge of opposite polarity and of substantially the same magnitude when such charge passes through said inverter; a timing means coupled to said array for first initiating the shift of charge stored in said storage portions of each of said cells during a first time interval along each of said rows or columns and through said inverter means to the input means of said array, said shifting continuing until the charge has been inverted and returned to the respective storage portions of all of said cells, and second, initiating the transfer of the electrical charge resulting from the exposure of said lightsensitive portions of said cells during a second time interval from said light-sensitive portions to said storage portions of each of said cells, whereby the charge then stored in said storage portions of each of said cells will be cancelled to the extent that the magnitude of the incident light on said cells during said two time intervals remains the same; and means for detecting the resulting summation of the charges in the storage portions of the cells of said array after the completion of both time intervals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
319 words
Apparatus for sensing changes in ambient light conditions comprising: a charge-coupled device for image sensing having an array of cells having at least one row or column, each of said cells having a light-sensitive portion which provides an output signal in the form of an electrical charge, the magnitude of which is dependent upon the amount of light incident upon said first portion, and a storage portion which stores the charge from said first portion, said array having serial input and output means; means for exposing each of said light-sensitive portions of each of said cells to incident light; an inverter means series-coupled between said output means and said input means of said array, said inverter means inverting the charge stored in the storage portion of each cell to a charge of opposite polarity and of substantially the same magnitude when such charge passes through said inverter; a timing means coupled to said array for first initiating the shift of charge stored in said storage portions of each of said cells during a first time interval along each of said rows or columns and through said inverter means to the input means of said array, said shifting continuing until the charge has been inverted and returned to the respective storage portions of all of said cells, and second, initiating the transfer of the electrical charge resulting from the exposure of said lightsensitive portions of said cells during a second time interval from said light-sensitive portions to said storage portions of each of said cells, whereby the charge then stored in said storage portions of each of said cells will be cancelled to the extent that the magnitude of the incident light on said cells during said two time intervals remains the same; and means for detecting the resulting summation of the charges in the storage portions of the cells of said array after the completion of both time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said inverter means including an amplification means sufficient to compensate for losses in the charge magnitude as a result of the shifting of charge through said array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said inverter means being coupled between the first and last cells of each row or column of cells, said inverter means thereby inverting the charge stored in said last cell and passing said inverted charge to the storage portion of the first cell of the same row or column of said array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized by the addition of a first register, said first register having a means for temporarily storing the charge stored in the last cell of each of said rows or columns of said array, said timing means initiating the transfer of the electrical charge stored in said last cell in each of said rows or columns of said array in to said first register during said first time interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized by said timing means including a means for shifting, during a third time interval which immediately follows said first time interval, the contents of said first register serially through said first register, through said inverter means, and back to said first cells in each row or column of said array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized by the addition of a second register, said second register being coupled between said first cells of each of said rows or columns of said array and said inverter means, whereby, during said third time interval, the charges from said first register are passed through said inverter means to said second register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further characTerized by said timing means also initiating the transfer of the charges stored in said second register into said first cells of each of said rows or columns of said array during said first time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said timing means causes the repetition of said shifting of charge through said first register following each shift of charge through said array during said first time interval, said shifting being repeated until the charges which initially were in said storage portions of the cells of said first row or column are returned to said first cells of each of said rows or columns after being inverted by being passed through said inverter means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |