Method and apparatus for controlling scanning of mosaic sensor array
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a multiplicity of sensors arranged along generally parallel lines;
a multiplicity of bus lines,a first multiplicity of switches for selectively electrically connecting sensors to bus lines, wherein each switch of said first multiplicity is of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state, each sensor having at least a respective switch of said first multiplicity associated therewith;
a second multiplicity of switches for selectively electrically connecting sensors to each other, wherein each switch of said second multiplicity is of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state, each sensor having at least a respective switch of said second multiplicity associated therewith;
data generator circuitry for generating switch state data representing the state of switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed;
address generator circuitry for generating address data identifying said switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed; and
a multiplicity of control logic circuits for outputting switch state control data to said switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed in response to receipt of said switch state data, each sensor having a respective control logic circuit associated therewith, said switch state control data controlling the state of said switches and being derived from said switch state data, and each sensor having a respective control logic circuit associated therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scanning architecture that makes it possible to update only those ultrasonic transducer subelements of a mosaic transducer array that change from view to view. The configuration of the switch matrix is fully programmable. The switch matrix includes access switches that connect subelements to bus lines and matrix switches that connect subelements to subelements. Each subelement has a unit switch cell associated therewith, each unit switch cell comprising at least one access switch, at least one matrix switch, and addressing and control logic. Optionally, each unit switch cell also includes latches for storing the future switch states of the switches to be programmed. The switches themselves have memory for storing their current switch states.
172 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a multiplicity of sensors arranged along generally parallel lines; a multiplicity of bus lines, a first multiplicity of switches for selectively electrically connecting sensors to bus lines, wherein each switch of said first multiplicity is of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state, each sensor having at least a respective switch of said first multiplicity associated therewith; a second multiplicity of switches for selectively electrically connecting sensors to each other, wherein each switch of said second multiplicity is of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state, each sensor having at least a respective switch of said second multiplicity associated therewith; data generator circuitry for generating switch state data representing the state of switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed; address generator circuitry for generating address data identifying said switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed; and a multiplicity of control logic circuits for outputting switch state control data to said switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed in response to receipt of said switch state data, each sensor having a respective control logic circuit associated therewith, said switch state control data controlling the state of said switches and being derived from said switch state data, and each sensor having a respective control logic circuit associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 43)
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27. A device comprising:
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a multiplicity of sensors arranged along generally parallel lines; a multiplicity of bus lines, and a multiplicity of unit switch cells, each unit switch cell being associated with a respective sensor and comprising;
(a) a first switch for connecting said associated sensor to a bus line, (b) a second switch for connecting said associated sensor to a neighboring sensor, and (c) a control logic circuit for outputting switch state control data to said first and second switches in response to receipt of switch state data representing the desired states of said first and second switches, said switch state control data controlling the state of said first and second switches and being derived from said switch state data, and each of said first and second switches being of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state;data generator circuitry for generating switch state data for selected first and second switches; and address generator circuitry for generating address data identifying which of said first and second switches have been selected to be programmed. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A device comprising:
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a multiplicity of sensors arranged along generally parallel lines; a multiplicity of bus lines, a first multiplicity of switches for selectively electrically connecting sensors to bus lines, wherein each switch of said first multiplicity is of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state, each sensor having at least a respective switch of said first multiplicity associated therewith; a second multiplicity of switches for selectively electrically connecting sensors to each other, wherein each switch of said second multiplicity is of a type that can memorize data representing its current switch state, each sensor having at least a respective switch of said second multiplicity associated therewith; data generator circuitry for generating switch state data representing the state of switches of said first and second multiplicities to be programmed; a multiplicity of latches for storing said switch state data from said data generator circuitry; a multiplicity of data bus lines respectively connected to said sets of latches; means for connecting respective sets of said latches along an X direction to form respective X-direction shift registers; Y control means for controlling the shifting of switch state data in an Y direction in selected latches; means for connecting respective sets of said latches along a Y direction to form respective Y-direction shift registers; and X control means for controlling the starting point at which switch state data enters said sets of latches and controlling the shifting of switch state data in a X direction in selected latches.
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37. A reconfigurable sensor array comprising:
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(a) a multiplicity of sensors tiled over a two-dimensional area; (b) a multiplicity of bus lines; (c) a multiplicity of switches for connecting selected sensors to each other or connecting selected sensors to respective bus lines, wherein each of said switches comprises respective switch state memory, said switch state memories storing switch state control data representing the current states of said switches; (d) a multiplicity of latches for storing switch state data representing the future states of said switches; and (e) control logic for overwriting said switch state control data in the switch state memories of said switches with new switch state control data derived from said switch state data output from said latches. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification