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Thermal infrared image sensor

  • US 5,952,659 A
  • Filed: 10/22/1997
  • Issued: 09/14/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A thermal infrared image sensor comprising:

  • (a) a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a thermosensing element for conducting current;

    (b) a plurality of read lines each connected to a predetermined number of the thermosensing elements;

    (c) each pixel further including a pixel switch connected to the respective thermosensing element and to a respective read line, the pixel switch allowing current to flow from the thermosensing element to the read line whenever the pixel switch is on, and the pixel switch preventing current from flowing from the thermosensing element to the read line whenever the pixel switch is off;

    (d) a parallel read device connected to the read lines and operable to read current signals conducted by the thermosensing elements;

    (e) a first accumulator operable to accumulate current signals read by the parallel read device; and

    (f) a serial scan device operable to sequentially and serially read current signals accumulated by the first accumulator.

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