Charge coupled devices in tiled arrays
First Claim
1. An imaging device comprising:
- charge coupled devices arranged in an M×
N array; and
fiber optic arrays that each comprise a plurality of optical fibers, wherein at least a subset of the optical fibers receives electromagnetic radiation falling in between the charge coupled devices and transmits the electromagnetic radiation to the charge coupled devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Charge coupled devices (CCDs) can be placed next to each in a tiled array to reproduce a larger image. The seams between the CCDs in a tiled CCD array can be reduced by placing fiber optic arrays on top of each CCD in the CCD array. The fiber optic arrays have numerous optical fibers that are tilted with respect to the plane of the CCDs. The optical fibers can retrieve electromagnetic radiation falling in gaps between the tiled CCDs. The optical fiber arrays substantially reduce the seams that appear in the image. Electronic pixel binning configurations can be adjusted to accommodate the placement of the optical fibers. The fiber optic arrays can have beveled edges near the gaps between adjacent CCDs to image light in the gaps. Techniques for reducing the dead zone between CCDs in a tiled array and for forming fiber optic arrays on a common plane are also provided.
284 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An imaging device comprising:
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charge coupled devices arranged in an M×
N array; and
fiber optic arrays that each comprise a plurality of optical fibers, wherein at least a subset of the optical fibers receives electromagnetic radiation falling in between the charge coupled devices and transmits the electromagnetic radiation to the charge coupled devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for sensing electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising:
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transmitting electromagnetic radiation through optical fibers to a plurality of charge coupled devices, at least a subset of the optical fibers being configured such that electromagnetic radiation falling between the charge coupled devices is transmitted through the subset of the optical fibers to the charge coupled devices; and
sensing the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the optical fibers at the plurality of charge coupled devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for processing signals from a charge coupled device, the method comprising:
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receiving first signals from first pixels that receive electromagnetic radiation from first optical fibers, wherein the first optical fibers map to a side of a fiber optic array;
receiving second signals from second pixels that receive electromagnetic radiation from second optical fibers, wherein the second optical fibers map to an upper surface of the fiber optic array;
discarding the first signals; and
using the second signals to produce an image indicative of the electromagnetic radiation.
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27. A method for processing signals from a first charge coupled device, the method comprising:
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receiving first signals from first pixels in the first charge coupled device, the first pixels being in a first channel of the first charge coupled device;
receiving second signals from second pixels in the first charge coupled device, the second pixels being in a second channel of the first charge coupled device;
adding a subset of the first signals to a subset of the second signals to obtain a third signal; and
using the first signals, the second signals, and the third signal to produce an image. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An imaging device comprising:
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an array of at least four charge coupled devices, each of the charge coupled devices being adjacent to at least two of the other charge coupled devices;
fiber optic arrays comprising optical fibers, each one of the fiber optic arrays being placed over one of the charge coupled devices;
a wherein a first gap is formed between edges of only a first, a second, and a third of the fiber optic arrays; and
wherein a second gap is formed between edges of only the second, the third, and a fourth of the fiber optic arrays.
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30. A method for forming an image sensor system, the method comprising:
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attaching first surfaces of a plurality of fiber optic arrays to a plurality of charge coupled devices, each of the charge coupled devices being attached to a carrier;
placing second surfaces of the plurality of fiber optic arrays on a common reference plane;
attaching a plurality of intermediate plates to a base; and
gluing each of the carriers to one of the intermediate plates while the second surfaces of the plurality of fiber optic arrays are on the common reference plane. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification