Patent ID: 7297931

Claim:
An optical sensor apparatus for effectively reducing a non-active gap, comprising: an optical sensor having a first linear array of sensor segments and a second linear array of sensor segments separated by a first non-active gap having a first width; a first optical fiber having a first end oriented toward a field of view and a second end oriented toward a sensor segment of said first linear array of sensor segments, for directing first image information from said field of view to said first linear array; and a second optical fiber for directing second image information from said field of view to said second linear array, said second optical fiber having a first end oriented toward said field of view and located a first distance, less than said first width, from said first end of said first optical fiber and a second end oriented toward a sensor segment of said second linear array of sensor segments and located a second distance, greater than said first distance, from said second end of said first optical fiber, thereby providing optical congruence between said field of view and said first and second image information without substantial time delay.