Patent ID: 7132638

Claim:
An imaging array comprising: a CCD imaging array comprising a plurality of pixels that accumulate charge when exposed to light; a readout amplifier comprising an operational amplifier having an input and an output port and a feedback capacitor connecting said input and output ports; a variable impedance path between said input and output ports, said path having an impedance controlled by a reset signal; a reset signal generator that generates said reset signal, said reset signal having three sequential phases, a first phase in which said path has a first impedance, a second phase in which said path has an impedance greater than a second impedance, and a third phase in which said path has an impedance greater than a cut-off impedance, said second impedance being greater than said first impedance; and a shift register that sequentially shifts said charge accumulated by each pixel into said input port, said reset signal generator applying said reset signal prior to each charge being shifted into said input port, wherein said readout amplifier generates an output indicative of said charge shifted into said input pert during said third phase.