A high sensitivity output amplifier for CCD image sensor

Abstract

A new high sensitivity CCD output amplifier, a "floating well detector", has been fabricated and evaluated. At 25°C, the new detector realizes a noise equivalent signal as small as 1.2 electrons over a 3.58 MHz video bandwidth, which is a dramatically reduced value compared with that for a conventional" floating surface detector" of 16 electrons at -50°C.