Textured pattern sensing and detection, and using a charge-scavenging photodiode array for the same
First Claim
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1. A system for imaging a textured surface comprising:
- a photoreceptor array including;
at least a first photoreceptor and a second photoreceptor, each configured to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the textured surface and to generate a signal corresponding thereto;
wherein the photoreceptor array is configured to detect an image of the textured surface based on a difference between time of arrival of the generated signals from the first and second photoreceptors,wherein the first photoreceptor and the second photoreceptor are each initially configured to operate in a high gain mode, andwherein first radiation reflected from a first portion of the textured surface that impinges on the first photoreceptor causes the first photoreceptor to generate current through the first photoreceptor and the current causes the second photoreceptor to become temporarily unbiased so as to not operate in the high gain mode, such that, when second radiation reflected from a second portion of the textured surface impinges on the second photoreceptor in a lower gain mode it will be substantially undetected by the second photoreceptor.
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Abstract
A system for imaging a textured surface comprising includes a photoreceptor array having: at least a first photoreceptor and a second photoreceptor, each configured to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the textured surface and to generate a signal corresponding thereto; wherein the photoreceptor array is configured to detect an image of the textured surface based on the relative difference between the time of arrival of the signals from the first and second photoreceptors. Methods for imaging a textured surface and fabricating a photoreceptor array structure for imaging a textured surface are also provided.
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22 Claims
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1. A system for imaging a textured surface comprising:
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a photoreceptor array including; at least a first photoreceptor and a second photoreceptor, each configured to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the textured surface and to generate a signal corresponding thereto; wherein the photoreceptor array is configured to detect an image of the textured surface based on a difference between time of arrival of the generated signals from the first and second photoreceptors, wherein the first photoreceptor and the second photoreceptor are each initially configured to operate in a high gain mode, and wherein first radiation reflected from a first portion of the textured surface that impinges on the first photoreceptor causes the first photoreceptor to generate current through the first photoreceptor and the current causes the second photoreceptor to become temporarily unbiased so as to not operate in the high gain mode, such that, when second radiation reflected from a second portion of the textured surface impinges on the second photoreceptor in a lower gain mode it will be substantially undetected by the second photoreceptor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for imaging a textured surface comprising:
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projecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto a textured surface; receiving, with a photoreceptor array, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the textured surface, the photoreceptor array including at least a first photoreceptor and a second photoreceptor, each configured to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the textured surface and to generate a signal corresponding thereto, wherein the first photoreceptor and the second photoreceptor are each initially configured to operate in a high gain mode; and detecting an image of the textured surface based on a difference between time of arrival of the generated signals from the first and second photoreceptors by sensing a first radiation reflected from a first portion of the textured surface when it impinges on the first photoreceptor, the first radiation causing the first photoreceptor to generate current through the first photoreceptor thereby causing the second photoreceptor to become temporarily unbiased so as to no longer operate in the high gain mode, such that a second radiation reflected from a second portion of the textured surface and which impinges on the second photoreceptor is caused to be substantially undetected by the second photoreceptor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification