Patent ID: 7170605

Claim:
An active sensor system for detecting optical behavior of one or more samples, said system comprising: at least one substrate; multiple illumination elements disposed on a first one of said at least one substrate, said illumination elements forming a multipixel illumination source, whereby portions of said samples are substantially uniquely illuminated by associated ones of said illumination elements; multiple detector elements disposed on a second one of said at least one substrate and forming a multipixel detector interspersed with said illumination elements, whereby light returning in response to said illumination from said portions of said samples are substantially uniquely detected by associated detector elements; an illumination control subsystem coupled to said multiple illumination elements for controlling said illumination of said portions of said samples; and a processing subsystem coupled to said multiple detector elements for producing an output indicating a detected optical signal corresponding to said light returning from said portions of said samples, and wherein said first one of said at least one substrate and said second one of said at least one substrate are the same substrate, and wherein said illumination elements are interspersed with said detection elements.