Methods for enabling in-field selection of near-sensor digital imaging functions
US10771722B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M9/00
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An imaging device is often paired with a readout integrated circuit (ROIC), which provides processing and data transfer functionality. The circuitry of a ROIC is typically specialized to meet the requirements of an application, which limits the ROIC to a few modes of operation and restricts compatibility to only certain types of imaging devices and applications. Furthermore, the circuitry supporting the processing functionality is limited due to size constraints on the ROIC. These shortcomings can be overcome with a field programmable imaging array (FPIA), which can be implemented as an integrated circuit combining customized ROIC sensor interface circuitry with field programmable gate array (FPGA) circuitry to enable post-fabrication definition of ROIC operational modes. An FPIA chip may form part of a three-chip stack that also includes an analog sensor interface chip for analog-to-digital conversion and an imaging device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.