METHOD AND CHARGE COUPLED APPARATUS FOR ALGORITHMIC COMPUTATIONS

An array of charge coupled devices (CCD's) is used to perform algorithmic computations on a set of data. The array of CCD's divide, combine and delay the input data to produce output data corresponding to the output desired from the algorithmic computations. Data may be processed in parallel, and the array is preferably divided into pipelined multiple stages so that multiple calculations may be performed in parallel. Processing elements may be interspersed between groups of CCD's to heighten processing capability. The array is particularly useful in a focal plane image processor. In such an image processor, an imager and array are integrated and may be formed on a single chip. Such an image processor can perform Gaussian as well as Laplacian convolutions. It performs all computations in real time. Also useful in the image processor is a device that substracts electric charges and a device that implements conditional summing.