Imaging array
First Claim
1. An imaging array comprising a planar array of optical sensor cells each capable of sensing and converting optical radiation into an electrical output signal when any one of said cells has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation, a field of contrasting features detectable by said sensor array, the difference in the spatial frequency of said contrasting features in said field relative to the spatial relation of said cells productive of an intermediary pattern comprising at least one detected contrasting feature from said field, circuit means coupled to each of said cells to receive said output signals with the output signals of each of said cells coupled with several of said neighboring cells in said array to alter the output of said neighboring cells resulting in the recognition of said intermediary pattern as being one of a limited plurality of predetermined such patterns.
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Abstract
An imaging array provides a plurality of distinguishable bitmap images and comprises an array of sensor cells capable of sensing radiation. The cells are connected in a manner to form distinguishable bitmap images through a pattern of correspondence among the cells. Each bitmap image formed comprises a combination of one or more cells indicative of detecting an image pixel within a field of array cells that have been nonindicative of such detection. The pattern of correspondence may be one of inhibition of the operation of other cells in the array or one of indication of operation to other cells in the array. Various patterns of correspondence can be created among the cells creative of bitmap images. Bitmap images may consist of combinations of responsive cells within a field of nonresponsive cells in the array. For example, each bitmap image may comprise radiation responsive array cells that have sensed a sufficient quantity of radiation within a field of cells which have not sensed radiation or have been inhibited from sensing radiation. On the other hand, each bitmap image may comprise array cells that have not sensed a sufficient quantity of radiation within a field of cells that have sensed a sufficient quantity of radiation. An application of the imaging array is in an IC chip for a cursor control device or an "optical mouse" for use with an interactive display oriented computer system to provide movement for a visible cursor from position to position on a display screen of such a system.
75 Citations
63 Claims
- 1. An imaging array comprising a planar array of optical sensor cells each capable of sensing and converting optical radiation into an electrical output signal when any one of said cells has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation, a field of contrasting features detectable by said sensor array, the difference in the spatial frequency of said contrasting features in said field relative to the spatial relation of said cells productive of an intermediary pattern comprising at least one detected contrasting feature from said field, circuit means coupled to each of said cells to receive said output signals with the output signals of each of said cells coupled with several of said neighboring cells in said array to alter the output of said neighboring cells resulting in the recognition of said intermediary pattern as being one of a limited plurality of predetermined such patterns.
- 7. A imaging array including a field of optically detectable features, said array comprising a planar array of optical sensor cells and capable of recognizing a plurality of distinguishable bitmap images upon relative translation between said array and said field, circuit means coupled to each of said cells to provide a plurality of cell outputs each capable of representing whether a cell has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation received from said field and providing a corresponding output signal the output signal of each of said cells coupled to at least one neighborhood cell to inhibit the operation of said at least one neighboring cell when said inhibiting cell has sensed said predetermined quantity of radiation, the neighborhood cell inhibition productive of a limited number of said distinguishable bitmap images recognizable from said field.
- 19. An imaging array comprising a plurality of sensor cells capable of sensing and converting optical radiation into an electrical signal, means for presenting a field of features to said array for sensitizing selected ones of said cells based upon the spatial frequency of contrasting features in said field relative to the spatial relation of said array cells so as to be productive of an intermediary pattern comprising at least one contrasting feature from said field detectable by said array, circuit means coupled to said cells, the electrical corrspondence among said cells via said circuit means to inhibit the sensing operation of cells in the array that are in proximity to a cell that has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation productive of said electrical signal, said inhibition extended over a predetermined extent of the array whereby at least one of said cells in the array has sensed radiation and remaining cells in the array have either not sensed radiation or have been inhibited from sensing radiation, said at least one of said cells thereby producing recognizable bitmap images within the metes and bounds of the array.
- 44. An imaging array comprising a planar array of optical sensor cells each capable of sensing and converting optical radiation into an electrical signal, means for presenting a field of contrasting features to said array for sensitizing selected ones of said cells based upon the spatial frequency of contrasting features in said field relative to the spatial relation of said cells so as to be productive of an intermediary pattern detectable by said array, and circuit means coupled to said cells to provide a plurality of cell outputs each capable of representing whether a cell has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation received from said field and providing a corresponding output signal, the output signal from each of said cells coupled across to at least one neighborhood cell whereby the electrical correspondence due to said output signal cross coupling results in said intermediary pattern being recognized as one of a limited plurality of predetermined bitmap images.
- 48. In an imaging array, a plurality of sensor cells, each cell comprising a dynamic node, reset means coupled to said dynamic node and capable of charging said dynamic node to a voltage representing a first logic state, photosensitive means coupled to said dynamic node and discharging said dynamic node to a voltage representing a second logic state upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of radiation, logic means coupled to said dynamic node to produce an output when said dynamic node reaches said second logic state, the output of said logic means being connected to the input of the same logic means of at least one other of said cells in said array to alter the response of said other cells upon receipt of said output.
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51. The method of producing distinguishable bitmaps with an array of sensor cells comprising the steps
providing an illuminated pattern comprising a field of features on a contrasting background, moving the sensor cell array relative to the illuminated pattern, permitting each cell to sense the presence of radiation reflected from the array pattern whereby some of said cells are responsive and some are nonresponsive, inhibiting the continuance of the response of cells in proximity of another neighboring cell that senses a sufficient amount of radiation from the array pattern, and reporting out from each cell as to whether the cell has been either responsive or nonresponsive or inhibited whereby a distinguishable bitmap is produced comprising responsive cells in a field of nonresponsive and inhibited cells.
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54. The method of producing distinguishable bitmaps with a planar array of sensor cells comprising the steps of
providing an illuminated pattern comprising a field of features on a contrasting background, moving the sensor cell array relative to the illuminated pattern, permitting each cell to sense the presence of radiation reflected from the array pattern whereby some of said cells are responsive and some are nonresponsive, correlating the results obtained from each cell with at least one neighboring cell to alter the response state of at least one of the correlation cells if one of said correlation cells has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation, and reporting out from each sensor cell as to whether the cell has been either responsive or nonresponsive due to said correlating thereby producing a distinguishable bitmap representation from the array.
- 58. In an imaging array, a planar array of optical sensor cells each capable of sensing and converting optical radiation into an electrical signal in response to a field of repetitive contrasting features, the spatial relation of said features and said cells productive of detectable patterns by said cells upon relative positional movement between said field and said array, and circuit means coupled to said cells to provide a plurality of cell outputs each capable of representing whether a cell has sensed a predetermined quantity of radiation received from said field and providing a corresponding output signal the output signal of some of said cells coupled to at least one neighborhood cell in a manner to provide electrical correlation among said cells capable of altering the output of some of said cells whereby said field is recognized as one of limited plurality of predetermined bitmap images.
Specification