Patent ID: 9369651
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: H04N

Claim Text:
1. An imager readout architecture utilizing analog-to-digital converters (ADC), the architecture comprising: a detector responsive to a received signal and configured to convert the received signal into an image usable by a serpentine readout device; a serpentine readout device in operable communication with the detector, the serpentine readout device configured to: divide the image into respective image slices, each respective image slice having a predetermined pixel width and corresponding to a predetermined number of columns; read out rows across each respective image slice, starting at a first end of the image and moving towards a second end of the image, moving within a respective image slice, wherein odd-numbered rows are read from the first side to a second opposing side, even-numbered rows are read from the second opposing side to the first side, and wherein the rows from the first end to the second end are read in a serpentine pattern; and providing a serpentine readout signal to an output; a sigma delta modulator (SDM) ADC having an input in operable communication with the serpentine readout device output, the SDM ADC configured to sample the image as it is read out in a serpentine pattern and to convert the sampled image into a corresponding digital image.