Showing papers on "Image sensor published in 1974"

Removal of dark current spikes from image sensor output signals

Abstract: There is produced for each location of an image sensor, such as an X, Y addressed photodiode array or a self-scanned charge transfer array, a signal indicative of the dark current amplitude at that location. During operation of the sensor, when a location producing excessive dark current is read out, rather than using the signal stored at that location, there is instead substituted a signal level which is the average of that stored in adjacent locations of the sensor.

Semiconductor image sensor

Abstract: In an image sensor having a large scale array of semiconductor photodetectors, only the noise component is delivered from a first photodetector subsequent to the readout of a stored signal, in synchronism with the readout of a signal of a second photodetector, so that the noise component may be utilized for the cancellation of the noise component in the output from the second photodetector.

An Acoustic Image Sensor Using a Transmit-Receive Array

Abstract: A preliminary model of a novel acoustic image sensor which utilizes a multiplexed area array of transducers operating in a transmit-receive mode has been developed. The major components of the system include: 1) an acoustic lens for focusing the transmitted energy of an array element on the corresponding object element, 2) an area or two-dimensional array of acoustic transducers formed within a monolithic wafer of piezoelectric ceramic material; 3) an array of silicon monolithic integrated circuits located immediately adjacent to the piezoelectric array; each integrated circuit performs the transmit/receive multiplexing for several transducer array elements; 4) an analogue signal processor consisting of high power transmit circuitry as well as sensitive receiver circuitry including preamplifiers, swept gain amplifiers and function generators, filters, gain compressors and detectors; 5) a digital controller which permits a) any single array element or any row or column of array elements to operate in the A-scan mode, b) any row or column of array elements to operate in the B-scan mode or c) the full array of elements to operate in the C-scan mode; and 6) a display subsystem consisting of a cathode ray display and interface circuitry which provides an M-scan mode and interpolation in the C-scan mode. The image sensor operates at an acoustic frequency of 3.5 MHz and is intended for use in medical diagnostics.

Random access solid-state image sensor with non-destructive read-out

Abstract: A solid state analog image sensor is disclosed in which the video input to the sensor is stored as a charge on a floating gate in a cell. The cell itself consists of a single J-FET with Schottky barrier contact to the metal word line. All associated address and drive/sense circuits are located around the active cell area. By filling up the active area with only the J-FET's and relegating the rest of the circuitry to the peripheral, inactive region, high picture resolution is obtained.

Ibis guidance and control system

Abstract: A guidance system for automatically boresighting a small field-of-view, lresolution image, sensed by an infrared missile imaging sensor, to a large field-of-view, high-resolution image, sensed by an imaging sensor located within an airplane. The image sensed by each sensor is applied to a digital correlator which makes a bit-by-bit digital correlation of the images. The image sensed by the large field-of-view aircraft sensor is monitored on a CRT. Cross-hairs are placed at the centerpoint of the area in the monitored aircraft sensor image which has the highest correlation with the missile sensor image. Thus the boresight of the missile sensor is ostensibly located in the monitored, aircraft, sensor image. This system may be used to slave automatically one sensor boresight to another. Where a plurality of missiles are carried by one plane, the boresight of each missile may be located in the large field-of-view aircraft monitor.

Two-phase charge coupled linear imaging devices with self-aligned implanted barrier

Abstract: A buried channel, two-phase CCD analog shift register with self-aligned implanted barriers has shown high charge transfer efficiency with standard 5 volt clocks at 10 MHz bit rates. Two linear image sensors which employ these CCD registers demonstrate the ease of use and the high quality of image reproduction that results from these properties.

A transparent electrode CCD image sensor for a reading aid for the blind

Abstract: A detailed investigation of CCD's for application in the optacon reading aid for the blind has been completed. The results of the investigation include an analysis of the performance of the transparent electrode structure and the CCD scanning circuitry used to realize the new type of image sensor.

Fluid mechanical tactile oscilloscope to augment the five senses

Abstract: A tactile imaging interface to the human body is disclosed for operation in combination with an input transducer (typically a solid-state image sensor), and suitable conversion electronics. A fluid jet, preferably discharging water, is deflected by electromechanical motors (typically a galvanometer) such as is used to drive pen motors and modulated in discharge pressure to impinge its resultant discharge jet on a thin flexible membrane in contact with a mechanically sensitive skin area. The conversion electronics drive the galvanometer motor controls for deflection and modulate the jet discharge in response to the input transducer which is typically an image sensor receiving an image. By the expedient of providing the transducer (or image sensor) and jet with either a conventional raster scan or a preferred cursive scan, or cursively tracing a stored, raster scanned image (by a cursive tracing algorithm in an analog or digital computer), or slowly tracing fast oscilloscope wave forms onto the skin by the use of a conventional sampling amplifier, transduced information supplementing or replacing a sensory modality (typically lost vision) is transmitted to the human tactile nervous system through the membrane.

Magnetic-tape cartridge-loaded portable video camera using prerecorded timing signals to control the video time base

Abstract: A wholly self-contained video camera is disclosed as being cartridge-loaded with magnetic tape for picture taking. Sweep rates for the camera sensor are slaved to the tape drive of the camera; and little or no speed regulation is associated with the camera tape drive. The tape employed in the camera has a pre-recorded signal which is detected for sweep rate control purposes. Playback of video information recorded by the camera is accomplished by running the tape during playback at the "pre-record" speed.

Charge-coupled devices for computer memories

Abstract: The charge-coupled device (CCD) is an analog shift register which is based upon MOS (metal-oxide semiconductor) technology and is capable of large scale integration. As an analog device it offers exciting and unique capabilities as an image sensor and in a variety of signal processing and filtering applications.

Adaptive imaging telescope with camera-computer transform image quality sensing and electro-optic phase shifting

Abstract: An adaptive imaging telescope having a linear sensor for detecting a received optical image. The system includes a choice of two electro-optic phase shifters positioned substantially at the aperture of the telescope responsive to the received optical image. A non-coherent image quality sensor is provided consisting of a video camera and digital computation networks. This system also includes circuits responsive to outputs from the sensor feeding the phase shifter in a closed-loop arrangement.

The JFET as a photosensitive cell in image sensor arrays

Abstract: JFETs, as photosensitive elements, offer gain and non-destructive readout; additionally switching transients and attenuation by parasitic capacitances can be eliminated. A 5 × 5 array, using a double punch-through a resetting method, will be described.

Application of an Area-Imaging Charge-Coupled Device for Television Cameras

Abstract: Charge-coupled device technology is creating today many new applications in the electronic industry that will impact a great deal the design of future systems in cameras, memories and signal processing. In the particular field of imaging, its impact on television cameras is being felt across the industry at the present, due to its inherent potential long-range, low-cost application. Low power, solid-state construction and high reliability add together to provide an imaging device that will be capable of replacing conventional vidicon and plumbicon tubes in TV cameras.

The Effect of Random Perturbation on Center of Mass Measurement with Sensor Arrays

Abstract: The effect of random image perturbation on the measurement of the center of mass of uniform object-images using a two-dimensional sensor array is analyzed. Measurement error is computed for various images projected in different positions with respect to the array matrix.

Cascode MOS image sensors

Abstract: An MOS photodiode readout structure, providing the basis for a self-scan image sensor with a spike noise level significantly less than conventional MOS transistor scan sensors, will be discussed.