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Monolithic light-to-digital signal converter

  • US 5,850,195 A
  • Filed: 03/29/1996
  • Issued: 12/15/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A monolithic light-to-digital signal converter, comprising:

  • a semiconductor die;

    an array of photodiodes, said array including at least first, second, and third sections, said first section producing a first current signal in response to incident light, said second section producing a second current signal in response to incident light, said third section producing a third current signal in response to incident light;

    a current-to-digital signal converter circuit formed in a face of said semiconductor die adjacent said light responsive circuit for receiving said current signals and producing a digital signal; and

    a control circuit for receiving said digital signal and producing an output signal, said control circuit responsive to first programming signals for producing first control signals, said current-to-digital converter circuit responsive to said first control signals for selectively either converting said first current signal into said digital signal, or combining said first and second current signals into a first composite signal and converting said first composite into said digital signal, or combining said first, second, and third current signals into a second composite signal and converting said second composite signal into said digital signal, said control circuit receiving said digital signal and scaling said digital signal in response to second programming signals by a selected one of a plurality of values to produce said output signal.

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