Focal plane array imaging device with random access architecture
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An imaging device including an image element, said image element comprising a photovoltaic element for providing electrical charge in response to light incident upon said photovoltaic element, a charge storage device for receiving and storing said electrical charge, a logic gate and a first switch controlled by said logic gate for connecting said stored electrical charge to a charge drain, an amplifier for producing an output signal indicative of said stored electrical charge, a second switch for connecting said output signal to an output conductor, and a pair of image element reset and access conductors both connecting to said logic gate for controlling said logic gate and one of which connects with and controls said second switch to alternatively drain charge from said charge storage device by operation of said logic gate and said first switch or to conduct said output signal to said output conductor by operation of said second switch dependent upon whether said pair of image element reset and access conductors carry like or dissimilar signals.
5 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging device includes an array of plural imaging elements each of which is responsive to incident light flux to provide an output signal. Each of the imaging elements includes provision for conducting a variable time integration of incident light flux, and alternatively, also for selecting a time interval during which each of the imaging elements simultaneously conducts such a time integration of incident light flux (i.e., takes a snap shot of an image scene). The imaging device includes provision for random access of each image element or group of image elements in the array so that output signals indicative of all or of only selected parts of an imaged scene can be processed for their image information, if desired. The other parts of an imaged scene may not be considered or may be considered for their image information at a lower sampling rate than the selected parts of the scene so that image information about the selected parts of the image scene can be accessed at a much higher rate than is conventionally possible. A variable gain feature allows selective canceling of fixed-pattern noise, interference, or unwanted image information. An anti-blooming feature prevents charge from an excessively bright image source from cascading across the array. Also, a control cache memory allows control commands to be fed to the device at a high rate and to be implemented at a slower rate on a first-in, first-out basis.
-
Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An imaging device including an image element, said image element comprising a photovoltaic element for providing electrical charge in response to light incident upon said photovoltaic element, a charge storage device for receiving and storing said electrical charge, a logic gate and a first switch controlled by said logic gate for connecting said stored electrical charge to a charge drain, an amplifier for producing an output signal indicative of said stored electrical charge, a second switch for connecting said output signal to an output conductor, and a pair of image element reset and access conductors both connecting to said logic gate for controlling said logic gate and one of which connects with and controls said second switch to alternatively drain charge from said charge storage device by operation of said logic gate and said first switch or to conduct said output signal to said output conductor by operation of said second switch dependent upon whether said pair of image element reset and access conductors carry like or dissimilar signals.
-
16. An imaging device having an image element, said image element comprising:
-
a photoresponsive element providing electric charge in response to incident light flux, a charge storage element receiving and storing electric charge from said photoresponsive element, a gain control element interposed between said photoresponsive element and said storage element, a charge drainage switch when closed connecting said charge storage element to a charge drain therefor, a logic gate having a pair of inputs and controlling said charge drainage switch dependent upon whether said pair of inputs carry like or dissimilar signals, an output amplifier providing an output voltage level indicative of charge stored on said charge storage element, and an output switch having a control input which is one of said pair of inputs and when closed connecting said output voltage level to an output signal conductor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification