Patent ID: 6097021
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A managed integration optical sensor array for use in producing an output signal in response to electromagnetic radiation, comprising:a plurality of optical sensors with each optical sensor having an integration period;each optical sensor having a photodetector with an electrical signal output proportional to the intensity of the electromagnetic energy incident with the photodetector;an electrical circuit coupled with each photodetector to integrate the electrical signal from each photodetector; anda switch control logic circuit coupled to the plurality of optical sensors operable to control the timing of the output signal and the integration period of each optical sensor,wherein the electrical circuit comprises:an operational amplifier having an offset correction, at least one non-inverting input, at least one inverting input and at least one output;a reference voltage supplied to the electrical circuit;the photodetector coupled to the operational amplifier inverting input and to the reference voltage;an integrating voltage storage device coupled to the operational amplifier inverting input and to the operational amplifier output for storing an accumulated electrical signal from the photodetector;a store voltage storage device coupled to the operational amplifier output and to the reference voltage for storing a voltage proportional to the voltage stored on the integrating voltage storage device;an output bus coupled to the store voltage storage device; andthe operational amplifier non-inverting input coupled to the reference voltage.