Patents Assigned to Photobit Corporation
-
Patent number: 6476751Abstract: An A-to-D converter system having programmed reference signal levels using only supply signal provided by a power supply is disclosed. The converter system includes a comparator configured to provide comparison of an analog input signal with an adjustable reference level. The converter system also includes a logic circuit and an adjustable capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Alexander I. Krymski, Kwang-Bo (Austin) Cho
-
Patent number: 6452528Abstract: A double comparison successive approximation A/D converter. The converter compares the value with upper and lower limits. The bit values are not set unless the value is distant from the compared value. Otherwise, the value of the bit is held until later when the bit does fall outside the limits.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Barmak Mansoorian
-
Patent number: 6452666Abstract: A method of determining a range of an object includes emitting light toward a target and sensing light reflected by the target. Signals corresponding to the sensed light are integrated during multiple integration periods. Each integration period is different from other integration periods. A range of the target can be calculated based on the integrated signals. A range finder for performing the foregoing technique also is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Sandor L. Barna, Eric R. Fossum
-
Publication number: 20020084927Abstract: An A-to-D converter system having programmed reference signal levels using only supply signal provided by a power supply is disclosed. The converter system includes a comparator configured to provide comparison of an analog input signal with an adjustable reference level. The converter system also includes a logic circuit and an adjustable capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Applicant: Photobit Corporation, a Delaware CorporationInventors: Alexander I. Krymski, Kwang-Bo Austin Cho
-
Publication number: 20020064143Abstract: CDMA communication over multiple channels by phase shifting at baseband and then RF modulating without a phase shift. Total number of baseband filters is reduced by summing channel components prior to baseband filtering.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: May 30, 2002Applicant: Photobit CorporationInventor: Ramon A. Khalona
-
Patent number: 6388241Abstract: A CMOS active pixel color linear image sensor is operable in line-packed readout mode, and at very high speed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the sensor is formed entirely on a single-chip and may be further configurable for operation in parallel-packed and/or pixel-packed modes. Line-packed pixel readout is accomplished by spreading same color pixel signal sampled values in storage elements across each of plural readout register arrays in a “cyclic” manner. Facility is introduced for starting the reading of a next pixel (e.g., R pixel 2) even before the previous pixel (R pixel 1) has been read out to increase the effective pixel readout rate.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Lin Ping Ang
-
Patent number: 6388242Abstract: Reduced size CMOS active pixel circuit uses special transistors with their gates and sources connected together. This transistor is placed at the top of the pixel.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Nikolai E. Bock
-
Patent number: 6388243Abstract: A fully depleted photodiode accumulates charge into both the diode and a separate floating diffusion. The floating diffusion has less capacitance that the overall diode, thereby resulting in a knee-shaped transfer characteristic for charge accumulation. The fully depleted photodiode also include two PN junctions, one near the surface and the other buried below the surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Vladimir Berezin, Eric R. Fossum
-
Patent number: 6388593Abstract: Differential non-linearity errors in an A/D converter are corrected by an analog system. The system produces different analog voltages which are used to correct the input voltage to the capacitor. The input voltage is changed by an amount which is effective to correct the C&Dgr;V to be the same as it would have been if the DNL error had not occurred.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Eric R. Fossum
-
Patent number: 6365886Abstract: Smarts are added to a CMOS active pixel color linear image sensor operable in any of parallel-packed, pixel-packed, and line-packed readout mode, to provide the added feature of variable imaging resolution operability. By combining decoder block functionality with shift selection logic to provide column selection adaptable for lowering the resolution of an imaging process, higher speed imaging is possible. Furthermore, the added functionality is implemented in a manner which does not unduly impact chip size. More importantly, the added functionality is compatible with, and in fact complements the specific architecture of an active pixel color linear sensor with variable readout mode functionality incorporated therein.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Lin Ping Ang, Alexander I. Krymski
-
Publication number: 20010052605Abstract: A lock in pinned photodiode photodetector includes a plurality of output ports which are sequentially enabled. Each time when the output port is enabled is considered to be a different bin of time. A specified pattern is sent, and the output bins are investigated to look for that pattern. The time when the pattern is received indicates the time of flight.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: December 20, 2001Applicant: Photobit CorporationInventors: Vladimir Berezin, Alexander Krymski, Eric R. Fossum
-
Patent number: 6295013Abstract: A non-uniform resistor is used with a flash A to D converter in order to provide an A to D output which is not linear. The nonlinearity of the A to D output is specially designed to carry out a predetermined correction of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1998Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Sandor Barna, Daniel Van Blerkam, Eric R. Fossum
-
Publication number: 20010017343Abstract: A sampling and readout system including a cascaded stage charge amplifier samples, amplifies, and outputs pixel sensor data from an array of pixel sensors. The charge amplifier divides the gain into several gain stages. Each gain stage amplifies the pixel sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Applicant: Photobit Corporation, Delaware corporationInventors: Lin Ping Ang, Sandor L. Barna
-
Publication number: 20010011960Abstract: Differential non-linearity errors in an A/D converter are corrected by an analog system. The system produces different analog voltages which are used to correct the input voltage to the capacitor. The input voltage is changed by an amount which is effective to correct the C&Dgr;V to be the same as it would have been if the DNL error had not occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2000Publication date: August 9, 2001Applicant: Photobit CorporationInventor: Eric R. Fossum
-
Patent number: 6255970Abstract: Missing code linearity in an A to D converter is corrected by associating each of the bits of a raw ADC output with a correction code for that bit.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Alexander Krymski
-
Patent number: 6239456Abstract: A lock in pinned photodiode photodetector includes a plurality of output ports which are sequentially enabled. Each time when the output port is enabled is considered to be a different bin of time. A specified pattern is sent, and the output bins are investigated to look for that pattern. The time when the pattern is received indicates the time of flight.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Vladimir Berezin, Alexander Krymski, Eric R. Fossum
-
Patent number: 6229134Abstract: A sampling and readout system including a cascaded stage charge amplifier samples, amplifies, and outputs pixel sensor data from an array of pixel sensors. The charge amplifier divides the gain into several gain stages. Each gain stage amplifies the pixel sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Lin Ping Ang, Sandor L. Barna
-
Patent number: 6222172Abstract: A light-emitting diode array is driven by a digital control. The digital control modulates the pulse width of pulses applied to the light-emitting diode. The intensity of the output is controlled by controlling the width of pulses applied to the light-emitting diode. Since light-emitting diodes have very low inertial energy, this system can be rapidly turned on and turned off. The output is integrated to produce a uniform output.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventors: Eric R. Fossum, Gregory Waligorski
-
Patent number: 6222175Abstract: A CMOS imager includes an array of CMOS active pixel sensors and multiple column readout circuits each of which is associated with a respective column of sensors in the array and can perform correlated double sampling of values from a sensor in the respective column. Each column readout circuit also includes a crowbar switch which selectively can be enabled to force the stored values to an operational amplifier-based charge sensing circuit via a pair of buses. The operational amplifier-based charge sensing circuit, which includes a pair of switched integrators each of which is coupled to one of the buses, provides a differential output based on the values stored by a selected one of the column readout circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Alexander J. Krymski
-
Patent number: 6215428Abstract: Differential non-linearity errors in an A/D converter are corrected by an analog system. The system produces different analog voltages which are used to correct the input voltage to the capacitor. The input voltage is changed by an amount which is effective to correct the CAV to be the same as it would have been if the DNL error had not occurred.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Photobit CorporationInventor: Eric R. Fossum