Architecture for a CCD-imager with multiple readout registers

摘要

A charge coupled device (100) includes an imaging section (102) and a readout section (104). The imaging section (102) defines a column direction and includes a plurality of imaging subsections. The readout section (104) includes a first output node structure (116) and a plurality of readout subsections. A first readout subsection (106) is coupled to a respective first imaging subsection. A second readout subsection is coupled to a respective second imaging subsection. The first readout subsection (106) includes a first 1 plurality of intermediate registers (110) and a first horizontal register segment (112). A first intermediate register of the first plurality of intermediate registers (110) defines a first intermediate direction, the first intermediate direction being non-parallel to the column direction. The second readout subsection includes a second plurality of intermediate registers and a second horizontal register segment, a layout area being defined between the first and second readout subsections. The first output node structure (116) is coupled to the first horizontal register segment (112) and disposed within the layout area. <IMAGE>