Sensing photon energies of optical signals
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of sensing line-like optical signals, the method comprising:
- obtaining a line-like optical signal;
causing relative scanning movement between the line-like optical signal and a two-dimensional photosensor array included in an integrated circuit (IC), the optical signal including photons within an application'"'"'s range of photon energies;
the optical signal following a scan path across the array along which cells in the array photosense photons in the optical signal;
the scan path extending in a relative movement direction;
the line-like optical signal extending in a direction approximately perpendicular to the relative movement direction; and
in each of two or more segments of the scan path, using a respective line of one or more cells in the array to photosense quantities of photons in the optical signal;
each segment'"'"'s respective line of cells including at least one cell that photosenses photons within a respective subrange of the range of photon energies;
the respective subranges of at least two of the segments being different from each other;
the act of obtaining the line-like optical signal comprising at least one of;
illuminating a two-dimensional object with line-like illumination to obtain the line-like optical signal;
using a line-like aperture to obtain the line-like optical signal from a two-dimensional optical signal; and
using an optical component to prevent the line-like optical signal from spreading in the relative movement direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit includes a photosensor array with subrange cells that photosense within respective subranges of an energy range. An optical signal and the array move relative to each other, and, for segments of their relative movement, sets of subrange cells photosense within subranges that are different. For example, a scanning device can cause relative scanning movement. The optical signal can be produced by illuminating a two-dimensional object. The photosensed quantities for a part of the optical signal can be used to produce spectral information for the part.
147 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method of sensing line-like optical signals, the method comprising:
-
obtaining a line-like optical signal; causing relative scanning movement between the line-like optical signal and a two-dimensional photosensor array included in an integrated circuit (IC), the optical signal including photons within an application'"'"'s range of photon energies;
the optical signal following a scan path across the array along which cells in the array photosense photons in the optical signal;
the scan path extending in a relative movement direction;
the line-like optical signal extending in a direction approximately perpendicular to the relative movement direction; andin each of two or more segments of the scan path, using a respective line of one or more cells in the array to photosense quantities of photons in the optical signal;
each segment'"'"'s respective line of cells including at least one cell that photosenses photons within a respective subrange of the range of photon energies;
the respective subranges of at least two of the segments being different from each other;the act of obtaining the line-like optical signal comprising at least one of; illuminating a two-dimensional object with line-like illumination to obtain the line-like optical signal; using a line-like aperture to obtain the line-like optical signal from a two-dimensional optical signal; and using an optical component to prevent the line-like optical signal from spreading in the relative movement direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. Apparatus comprising:
- an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a photosensor array;
the array including cells that photosense quantities of photons received;a scanning device that produces relative scanning movement between an optical signal and the photosensor array, the optical signal including photons within an application'"'"'s range of photon energies;
the optical signal following a scan path across the array along which cells in the array photosense photons in the optical signal;
each of a set of one or more parts of the optical signal having a respective distribution of photon energies within the application'"'"'s range and following a respective line-like path across the array;a transmission structure that receives the optical signal along at least part of the scan path and, in response, provides photons to the photosensor array such that, in each of two or more segments of the scan path, a respective set of one or more cells in the array photosenses quantities of photons in the optical signal;
each segment'"'"'s respective set of cells including at least one cell that photosenses photons within a respective subrange of the range of photon energies;
the respective subranges of at least two of the segments being different from each other; andcircuitry that uses quantities photosensed by the respective cells of at least two of the segments as one of the set of parts follows its line-like path to obtain spectral information about the one part'"'"'s respective distribution of photon energies. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a photosensor array;
-
19. A method comprising:
-
receiving an optical signal at a photosensor array included in an integrated circuit (IC), the optical signal including photons within an application'"'"'s range of photon energies;
the received optical signal and the array moving relative to each other along a first direction;in each of two or more segments of the first direction, using a respective set of one or more cells in the array to photosense quantities of photons in the optical signal;
each segment'"'"'s respective set of cells photosensing photons within a respective subrange of the range of photon energies;
the respective subranges of at least two of the segments being different from each other; andfor each of a set of one or more parts of the optical signal, combining quantities photosensed by the respective sets of cells of two or more of the segments to obtain spectral information for the part of the optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. Apparatus comprising:
-
an assembly including; a two-dimensional photosensor array; and a transmission structure; a scanning device that produces relative scanning movement in a relative movement direction between an optical signal and the assembly, the optical signal including photons within an application'"'"'s range of photon energies;
the optical signal following a scan path across the array along which cells in the array photosense photons in the optical signal;
the transmission structure receiving the optical signal along at least part of the scan path and, in response, providing photons to the photosensor array such that, in each of two or more segments of the scan path, a respective set of one or more cells in the array photosenses quantities of photons from the transmission structure;
each segment'"'"'s respective set of cells extending in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction and including at least one cell that photosenses photons within a respective subrange of the range of photon energies;
the respective subranges of at least two of the segments being different from each other; andan optical component that receives the optical signal and provides it to the transmission structure;
the optical component performing at least one of;preserving resolution of the optical signal in the relative movement direction; preserving resolution of the optical signal in the orthogonal direction; and imaging the optical signal onto the photosensor array. - View Dependent Claims (33)
-
Specification