Sensor with improved gain-setting capability
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of setting an operational characteristic of a sensor, the method comprising:
- exposing the sensor to a first sensory condition;
receiving a first signal from at least one of an operator and a control device;
receiving a first sensor signal from the sensor subsequent to the receiving of the first signal;
adjusting a characteristic of the sensor in a first manner, wherein the characteristic is a gain, and wherein the adjusting in the first manner involves incrementing the gain;
exposing the sensor to a second sensory condition after the characteristic has been adjusted in the first manner;
receiving a second signal from at least one of the operator and the control device;
receiving a second sensor signal from the sensor subsequent to the receiving of the second signal;
generating an amplified signal based upon the second sensor signal, the amplified signal being related to the second sensor signal by the incremented gain; and
adjusting the characteristic in a second manner in at least one circumstance, wherein the adjusting in the second manner involves decrementing the gain, wherein the at least one circumstance occurs when the amplified signal exceeds a threshold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of calibrating a sensor such as a photodetector, and device capable of employing that method, are disclosed. The method includes shining light upon a photosensitive device of the photodetector, receiving a first signal from an operator, and increasing a gain of the photodetector. The method also includes discontinuing the shining of the light upon the photosensitive device after the gain has been increased, receiving a second signal from an operator, and decreasing the gain so that the gain is not excessive.
8 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method of setting an operational characteristic of a sensor, the method comprising:
-
exposing the sensor to a first sensory condition; receiving a first signal from at least one of an operator and a control device; receiving a first sensor signal from the sensor subsequent to the receiving of the first signal; adjusting a characteristic of the sensor in a first manner, wherein the characteristic is a gain, and wherein the adjusting in the first manner involves incrementing the gain; exposing the sensor to a second sensory condition after the characteristic has been adjusted in the first manner; receiving a second signal from at least one of the operator and the control device; receiving a second sensor signal from the sensor subsequent to the receiving of the second signal; generating an amplified signal based upon the second sensor signal, the amplified signal being related to the second sensor signal by the incremented gain; and adjusting the characteristic in a second manner in at least one circumstance, wherein the adjusting in the second manner involves decrementing the gain, wherein the at least one circumstance occurs when the amplified signal exceeds a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method of calibrating a photodetector, the method comprising:
-
shining light upon a photosensitive device of the photodetector; receiving a first signal from an operator; adjusting a gain of the photodetector in a first direction upon the receiving of the first signal; discontinuing the shining of the light upon the photosensitive device after the gain has been adjusted in the first direction; receiving a second signal from the operator; and adjusting the gain in a second direction upon the receiving of the second signal so that the gain meets a desired condition. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A photodetector comprising:
-
a photosensitive device; at least one input device by which it is possible for an operator to provide input signals to the photodetector; a variable-gain amplifier circuit coupled to the photosensitive device and capable of receiving signals from the photosensitive device indicative of an intensity of light received by the photosensitive device; and a control component coupled to the variable-gain amplifier circuit and the at least one input device, wherein the control component provides signals governing the gain of the variable-gain amplifier circuit, wherein the gain of the variable-gain amplifier circuit is set in response to two input signals provided at the at least one input device, wherein the gain is increased after one of the two input signals is provided and the gain is decreased after the other of the two input signals is provided, and wherein the one input signal occurs when the photosensitive device is exposed to a first light input and the other input signal occurs when the photosensitive device is exposed to a second light input that has an intensity level that is less than that of the first light input. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A sensor system comprising:
-
a sensing device configured to provide an output signal that varies depending upon an intensity level of an input signal received by the sensing device; and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) including a variable-gain amplifier circuit coupled to the sensing device and capable of amplifying the output signal from the sensing device according to a gain of the amplifier circuit, wherein the gain of the variable-gain amplifier circuit is determined by way of a first operation in which the gain is increased to a first level in response to the sensing device being exposed to a higher-level input signal intensity, and a second operation in which the gain is decreased to a second level in response to the sensing device being exposed to a lower-level input signal intensity, and wherein the second operation occurs in dependence upon a comparison of an amplified signal with a threshold, and the amplified signal is generated by the variable-gain amplifier circuit based upon both the output signal when the sensing device is being exposed to the lower-level input signal intensity and the gain when increased to the first level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification