A programmable CCD driver circuit for multiphase CCD operation

A programmable CCD (charge-coupled device) driver circuit was designed to drive CCDs in multiphased modes. The purpose of the drive electronics is to operate developmental CCD imaging arrays for NASA´s tiltable moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS-T) Four objectives for the driver were considered during its design: the circuit drives CCD electrode voltages between 0 V and +30 V to produce reasonable potential wells; the driving sequence is started with one input signal; the circuit allows programming of frame sequences required by arrays of any size; it produces interfacing signals for the CCD and the DTF (detector test facility). Simulation of the driver verified its function with the master clock running up to 10 MHz. This suggests a maximum rate of 400000 pixels/s. Timing and packaging parameters were verified. The design uses 54 TTL (transistor-transistor logic) chips. Two versions of hardware were fabricated: wirewrap and printed circuit board. Both were verified functionally with a logic analyzer