Appeal No. 1998-3135 Page 10
Application No. 08/789,519
(in FIGURE 6).
Therefore the conversion factor 0H, i.e., the
signal amplitude obtained at the time of input of
one electron to the FD region 1 (in FIGURE 5) and 11
(in FIGURE 6), is given by
0H = V/N = e-/C .... (2)
We find from equation 1 (V = Q/C = Ne-/C) that the signal
amplitude V is directly related to the capacitance of the
electric charge converter. In addition, it is clear from
equation 2 (0H = V/N = e-/C) that the conversion factor 0H is
directly related to the signal amplitude V. In view of
Kadota’s addition of a second gate and second diffusion
region, and the changing the voltage of the floating diffusion
region 2, we find that in Kadota, the charge-to-voltage
conversion factor is selectively changed by resetting the
diffusion layer to a high voltage. Thus, we conclude that
Kadota meets the recited claim language of the conversion
factor being selectively changed in response to gate voltages
selectively applied to said first and second precharge gate
electrodes. Accordingly, we will affirm the rejection of
claim 5 under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
Turning next to the rejection of claim 6 under 35 U.S.C.
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