Sensor element array and method for signal or image processing

US5917544A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Daimler-Benz AG · DE
• Temic Telefunken Microelectronik · DE

Inventors

• Gerald Sobotta · Sauerlach, DE
• Willi Platz · Munich, DE
• Helmut Riedel · Fürstenfeldbruck, DE
• Karl Robert Hofmann · Netphen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 1996
• Grant date: Jun 29, 1999
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04N25/708
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement and method for processing a signal field of sensor signals which originate from the individual sensor elements, for example photodetectors, of a plurality of sensor elements which are regularly spaced in an area and which are each surrounded by six adjacent sensor elements while forming a hexagonal structure. A differential amplifier compares a quantity representing the potential difference and a reference quantity forms a switching quantity (I.sub.Mo) on the output side. A switching comparator, on the input side, receives the switching quantity and, if this switching quantity exceeds the preselectable switching threshold, on the output side emits a switching pulse which causes the "off" switching condition. Four signal outputs 1, 2, 3, 4 as well as four signal inputs (I.sub.M1 I.sub.M2, I.sub.M3, I.sub.M4) are each connected with a signal input and a signal output of one of the four analog circuits assigned to the four next adjacent switchable resistors, one signal respectively being supplied to the four signal outputs which represents the switching quantity. A switching stage for forming the reference quantity takes into account the signals present at the four sign…