Multi-photodetector unit cell
US6693670B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/46
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multi-cell cluster which includes a plurality of light-detecting unit cells and a single charge-integration and readout circuitry. Typically, each of the cells produces charge representative of the detected light. The circuit may be shared by the plurality of unit cells, and used to read-out the charge in real-time. The cluster may also Include a switch associated with each unit cell, such that each switch connects its associated unit cell to the circuit. The switch may also be controlled in a time-multiplexing manner. Each unit cell may include a photodetector, a photodiode, or a photogate. The circuit may include a shared storage device, a shared reset circuit, or a readout circuit. Typically, the shared storage device may be for accumulating the charge in the focal plane. The here-above described apparatus facilitates either static or dynamic, either local or global image resolution/sensitivity tradeoffs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.