Abstract: A radiation damage resistant linear X-ray detector array system based on a unique focusing principle reduces or eliminates the X-ray radiation damage on the electrical components of the detector system. The system includes a layer of scintillating material, a rod lens array, and an array of image sensors. The layer of scintillating material, such as Gd2O2S:Tb (GOS or GADOX), CsI(TI), or CdWO4, is placed on an image plane and used to convert the impinging X-ray energies into visible light which can be detected efficiently by the image sensor array. The rod lens array is used to focus the visible light after the X-ray flux has been converted. The photon energy of the visible light is collected with a scanning image sensor array that converts the photon energy proportionally into electrical video signals and enables the signals to be processed using standard signal and image processing software and equipment.

Abstract: A radiation damage resistant linear X-ray detector array system based on a unique focusing principle reduces or eliminates the X-ray radiation damage on the electrical components of the detector system. The system includes a layer of scintillating material, a rod lens array, and an array of image sensors. The layer of scintillating material, such as Gd2O2S:Tb (GOS or GADOX), CsI(TI), or CdWO4, is placed on an image plane and used to convert the impinging X-ray energies into visible light which can be detected efficiently by the image sensor array. The rod lens array is used to focus the visible light after the X-ray flux has been converted. The photon energy of the visible light is collected with a scanning image sensor array that converts the photon energy proportionally into electrical video signals and enables the signals to be processed using standard signal and image processing software and equipment.

Abstract: A Contact Image Sensor (CIS) system with high resolution, high sensitivity, low noise, low-power dissipation, and low-cost scanning has a CIS pixel structure that utilizes a junction photodiode as a detector element and a single-stage, high-gain, low-power inverter functioning as a charge integrating amplifier. The inverter clamps the photodetector at a fixed bias voltage and removes any signal charge generated by the incident light. A very small integrating capacitor is used on the integrating inverter amplifier for high pixel gain. The pixel further includes a noise cancellation circuit to eliminate the reset noise of the integrating capacitor. The pixel signal is then read out by a differential stage to cancel the dark offset. This structure allows the implementation of high-performance CIS arrays using low-cost standard CMOS manufacturing process.

Abstract: A dynamic threshold two-level A/D converter, also termed a tracking digitizer circuit. The module circuitry includes a comparator circuit and a tracking low-pass filter circuit. The dynamic thresholding module takes the output signals from a CIS module and develops a tracking (variable) background signal. The tracking background signal is then compared to the output signals from the CIS in a comparator. The comparator outputs a two-level (binary) output digital signal. The circuit is designed to be used in conjunction with a scanning device, particularly a CIS system. The circuit can be used in a wide variety of applications that require pre-processed digitized video signals. The dynamic thresholding module's circuitry can be implemented quite simply. Moreover, the circuit provides a very low cost and a low parts density module that can easily be incorporated with existing CIS modules without substantially increasing the size of the CIS module or the cost to manufacture the unit.

Abstract: A dynamic threshold two-level A/D converter, also termed a tracking digitizer circuit. The module circuitry includes a comparator circuit and a tracking low-pass filter circuit. The dynamic thresholding module takes the output signals from a CIS module and develops a tracking (variable) background signal. The tracking background signal is then compared to the output signals from the CIS in a comparator. The comparator outputs a two-level (binary) output digital signal. The circuit is designed to be used in conjunction with a scanning device, particularly a CIS system. The circuit can be used in a wide variety of applications that require pre-processed digitized video signals. The dynamic thresholding module's circuitry can be implemented quite simply. Moreover, the circuit provides a very low cost and a low parts density module that can easily be incorporated with existing CIS modules without substantially increasing the size of the CIS module or the cost to manufacture the unit.

Abstract: A Contact Image Sensor (CIS) system utilizing a phototransistor sensing element that consists of a mechanism to pre-charge or inject a "background charge" into the storage node and allow the charge to reset through the same output base-to-emitter junction. This pre-charge and reset process removes the residual image and replenishes the charge lost by the base-to-emitter sub-threshold leakage current. Furthermore, the reset of the injected charge through the same output base-to-emitter junction automatically sets the phototransistor to an initial dark level, which is at the start of a linear region of the response versus illumination curve, and thus substantially improves the photo-response linearity.

Abstract: A contact image sensing system that eliminates the use of npn phototransistors. The device comprises a plurality of sensing elements, a like number of dummy sensing elements, control and drive clocks, a digital scanning shift register, and a differential amplifier. The device operates by sequentially reading the voltage output of the sensors, then comparing that output with the output of the dummy sensors so that any noise or offset in the signal can be cancelled by a differential amplifier.

Abstract: A color-reproducing contact image sensing (CORCIS) system that eliminates the use of multiple arrays of photodetectors with separate color filters and which permits the use of any of various signal-processing improvements such as voltage pickoff, transducer gain and correlated double sample and hold processing. The device operates by sequentially illuminating the colored object to be reproduced by primary color illumination means, with each illumination transferring in parallel the appropriate color response to a readout register for sequential readout. The sample and hold, and the parallel transfer operation, allow the CORCIS system to be able to read out signal while the detector array is integrating the next color signal, thus improving the sensitivity.

Abstract: An improved BBD structure is disclosed which is realized with MOS, two layer, polysilicon technology. In the tetrode structure, the transfer gate overlaps the tetrode gate with no intermediate substrate region. The storage capacitor is off-set from the propagation channel and is formed by the two layers of polysilicon without using a p-n junction. High transfer efficiency is obtained over a wide frequency range with a shorter length per stage.

Abstract: A photodiode array employing an analog shift register with a line of interlaced photodiodes. Alternate diodes are coupled to one of a pair of analog shift registers which are disposed on opposite sides of the line of photodiodes. An "anti-blooming" polysilicon line and a "transfer" polysilicon line are disposed along each side of the line of photodiodes adjacent to the shift registers. Each of the diffused region forming the photodiodes are coupled by a metal line to another diffused region formed between the anti-blooming and transfer polysilicon lines. This latter region acts as a remote, common region for both the anti-blooming function and transfer function.