Patent ID: 7176431
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G01B,G06F,H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A photodetector having a photosensitive region in which pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each pixel is constructed of a plurality of photosensitive portions each of which outputs an electric current according to an intensity of incident light and which are arranged adjacent to each other within an identical plane, wherein across a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction in the two-dimensional array, photosensitive portions on one side out of the plurality of photosensitive portions forming each of said pixels are electrically connected to each other, wherein across a plurality of pixels arrayed in a second direction in the two-dimensional array, photosensitive portions on another side out of the plurality of photosensitive portions forming each of said pixels are electrically connected to each other, the photodetector comprising a signal processing circuit for reading electric currents from groups of photosensitive portions on the one side electrically connected among the plurality of pixels arrayed in the first direction and electric currents from groups of photosensitive portions on the another side electrically connected among the plurality of pixels arrayed in the second direction, and for detecting luminance profiles in the first direction and in the second direction in the two-dimensional array on the basis of the electric currents.