Photodetector system, apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of forming an image signal comprising:
- providing a curved photodetector, said curved photodetector including a plurality of photosensors;
absorbing an un-refracted flux of photons at said plurality of photosensors, each of said photosensors respectively having a different functional orientation with respect to a propagation vector of said flux of photons;
generating a plurality of intensity signals at said plurality of photosensors respectively, each of said intensity signals being related to said respective orientation;
receiving said plurality of intensity signals at a signal processor device; and
computing, with said signal processor device, a focused image signal related to said plurality of intensity signals.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming an image signal by receiving a flux of photons at a convex photodetector such as a hemispherical photodetector. The convex photodetector includes a plurality of photosensors. Each photosensor has a different orientation with respect to a propagation vector of the flux of photons. The photosensors generate a respective plurality of intensity signals. Each of the intensity signals is related to the respective orientation of the photosensor that generates it. The intensity signals are received by a signal processor, such as a digital signal processor, which uses the intensity signals to compute an image signal related to the intensity signals and thereby produce a focused output image.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of forming an image signal comprising:
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providing a curved photodetector, said curved photodetector including a plurality of photosensors; absorbing an un-refracted flux of photons at said plurality of photosensors, each of said photosensors respectively having a different functional orientation with respect to a propagation vector of said flux of photons; generating a plurality of intensity signals at said plurality of photosensors respectively, each of said intensity signals being related to said respective orientation; receiving said plurality of intensity signals at a signal processor device; and computing, with said signal processor device, a focused image signal related to said plurality of intensity signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A photodetector comprising:
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a support member, said support member having an upper surface; a plurality of photosensors disposed on said upper surface;
said plurality of photosensors being arranged to receive un-refracted light from a light source; anda processor, said processor being adapted to receive respective signals from said plurality of photosensors and apply a mathematical transform to produce a focused image signal; wherein said upper surface includes at least one of a smooth hemispherical surface, a smooth ellipsoidal surface and a smooth ovoid surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A photodetector comprising:
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a support member, said support member having an upper surface; a plurality of photosensors disposed on said upper surface;
said plurality of photosensors being arranged to receive un-refracted light from a light source; anda processor, said processor being adapted to receive respective signals from said plurality of photosensors and apply a mathematical transform to produce a focused image signal; wherein said upper surface defines a piecewise approximation to at least one of a hemispherical surface, an ellipsoidal surface and an ovoid surface.
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Specification