Patent · US Active

Method and system for distribution of an exposure control signal for focal plane arrays

US7501634B1 · kind B1 · utility

26Cited by
3References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 19, 2003
Grant dateMar 10, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10F39/803
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A large format imager includes an array of pixels for converting electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals and a trigger to from an optical pulse so as to trigger the pixels to generate an integration period. Each pixel includes a photodiode to convert light intensity of high-frequency radiation into an electrical charge, a reset switch to reset the photodiode, circuitry to enable sampling of the electrical charge produced by the photodiode, a photoswitch to convert an optical trigger pulse, received from the trigger, into an electrical signal, an inverter to produce a control signal corresponding to the electrical signal produced by the photoswitch, and control circuitry to locally generate integration control signals. The integration control signals control a start of an integration period for the photodiode, duration of the integration period for the photodiode, and the sampling of the electrical charge produced by the photodiode. The large format imager may also include a trigger for producing an electrical pulse so as to trigger the pixels to generate an integration period and tree type electrical distribution system for propagating the electrical pulse to all the pixe…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.