Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) of types otherwise known is provided with integrated electronics. The integrated electronics may be, for example, transistors. Other electronic elements may also be integrally formed with the VCSEL. Also integrally formed with the VCSEL may be a detector for detecting light emitted by the VCSEL. The electronics and/or detector may be of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). The detector may have transparent contacts, of for example of indium tin oxide (ITO), formed by techniques otherwise known. Improved, on-chip addressing is possible, and improved detector architecture is provided.

Abstract: A new, cost effective process for the production of ultrafine particles which is based on mechanically activated chemical reaction of a metal compound with a suitable reagent. The process involves subjecting a mixture of a metal compound and a suitable reagent to mechanical activation to increase the chemical reactivity of the reactants and/or reaction kinetics such that a chemical reaction can occur which produces a solid nano-phase substance. Concomitantly, a by-product phase is also formed. This by-product phase is removed so that the solid nano-phase substance is left behind in the form of ultrafine particles. During mechanical activation a composite structure is formed which consists of an intimate mixture of nano-sized grains of the nano-phase substance and the reaction by-product phase.

Abstract: An amorphous silicon sensor array is comprised of a plurality of individually addressable sensor elements. A control circuit, including gate lines, data lines and a control lines, selects the elements for readout discharge. The number of gate lines, data lines and control lines are reduced from conventional sensor array selective discharge control systems. The array includes a plurality of clusters of associated sensor elements wherein each element in a cluster includes a switch for switching integrated charge between the associated sensor elements. One of the gate lines and a one of the data lines is associated with each one of the clusters. The control line is associated with each of the sensor elements in each cluster for selectively and independently addressing for discharge the sensor elements in the clusters of the array.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging books or other bound volumes which includes a book supporting system and an optical system positioned above the book supporting system and mounted for movement along a vertical axis toward and away from the book support system. The book support system includes an inner platform and an outer platform with the inner platform being mounted for vertical movement relative to the outer platform. A cradle having pivotable side support plates is mounted on the inner platform, and support arms are mounted on the outer platform. The support arms are positioned so that the support plates rest thereon so that as the cradle is moved downwardly, the support arms pivot the side support plates upwardly.

Abstract: A pixel circuit construction for image sensing includes a photosensor, an amplifier, a selector switch and, and a reset switch. The amplifier may be a single polycrystalline silicon (channel) transistor for high gain. The selector switch may also be a single polycrystalline silicon (channel) transistor for high conductivity. The reset switch may a single amorphous crystalline silicon (channel) transistor for low leakage current. The photosensor and amplifier may be connected to a shared bias line or may be connected to separate bias and drive lines, respectively. The selector and reset switches may be connected to a shared data line or may be connected to separate data and reset lines, respectively. Laser crystallization and rehydrogenation techniques are well suited to obtaining devices described herein. Threshold response is provided.

Abstract: A pixel circuit construction for image sensing includes a photosensor, an amplifier, a selector switch and, and a reset switch. The amplifier may be a single polycrystalline silicon (channel) transistor for high gain. The selector switch may also be a single polycrystalline silicon (channel) transistor for high conductivity. The reset switch may a single amorphous crystalline silicon (channel) transistor for low leakage current. The photosensor and amplifier may be connected to a shared bias line or may be connected to separate bias and drive lines, respectively. The selector and reset switches may be connected to a shared data line or may be connected to separate data and reset lines, respectively. Laser crystallization and rehydrogenation techniques are well suited to obtaining devices described herein.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and applications of forming clusters of pixels in 2-D sensing and display arrays. Using TFT switches having more than one predetermined electrical characteristics. The array formed according to these teachings being used in sensing, displaying, adjusting resolution, color selection, image processing, object recognition and filtering.

Abstract: The system achieves high-resolution imaging with low-resolution two-dimensional imagers whose sensors are only a fraction of a selected pixel area. Sensors are stepped across an image with an optical or mechanical stepper to acquire an image at each sensor position. Thereby, resolution is defined by a step size which is comparable to the sensor size, rather than by pixel resolution. The system thus uses multiple image, obtained from individual sensors, which have a sensed area substantially less than the area of the pixels of the sensor array. Such rescanning is accomplished by movable mirrors or lenses that are disposed between an illuminated specimen and a sensor area.

Abstract: A pixel circuit construction for image sensing includes a photosensor, an amplifier, a selector switch and, and a reset switch. The amplifier may be a single polycrystalline silicon (channel) transistor for high gain. The selector switch may also be a single polycrystalline silicon (channel) transistor for high conductivity. The reset switch may a single amorphous crystalline silicon (channel) transistor for low leakage current. The photosensor and amplifier may be connected to a shared bias line or may be connected to separate bias and drive lines, respectively. The selector and reset switches may be connected to a shared data line or may be connected to separate data and reset lines, respectively. Laser crystallization and rehydrogenation techniques are well suited to obtaining devices described herein. Linearization of output response is provided.

Abstract: Image transduction device pixel cells are described which have analog memory integrated with the pixel transduction elements and arrays made from such pixel cells. The integrated pixel cells are capable of storing information which, for example, can achieve a desired transduction transfer function for a given pixel transduction element. While the present invention may be used with any type of continuously variable, settable, and nonvolatile analog memory, the analog memory is beneficially based on a ferroelectric gate transistor comprised of an amorphous silicon transistor integrated with a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer or an amorphous silicon transistor with a charge storage dielectric gate layer.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for detection of radiation directed through an object. A phosphor converter disposed to receive the radiation pattern generates visible light representative of the radiation pattern. A plurality of light sensors are disposed to define a sensor array for receiving the visible light and generating a pixel signal pattern representative of the radiation pattern. A plurality of reflectors are disposed at locations for reflecting a portion of the visible light radiating in a direction to avoid being received in the plurality of light sensors. The light is reflected back into the phosphor converter where a diffuse reflection of the reflected light redirects the light back towards the sensors.

Abstract: The compact document imager and display apparatus has a two-dimensional image sensor array, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and processing electronics. An illumination source can be added to illuminate the document on the sensor array and to provide backlight for the LCD. Color imaging may be achieved by providing three sequential illumination pulses of appropriate colors. A document is placed in close contact with the sensor array. The document is illuminated and an electronic image is captured and stored in the processing electronics. The captured image can be displayed on the LCD by the processing electronics. The document, such as a single sheet of paper or a transparency, can be illuminated by the room light to perform image capture. The compact document imager can be used as a facsimile machines by providing telephone connections. Documents can be scanned using the sensor array and sent to other devices. Documents can be received from other sources and displayed on the LCD.

Abstract: A product recovery system for recovering product from a pipeline having a supply end and a destination end and having a path of primary product flow from the supply end to the destination end. The product recovery system includes a pig launching station connected to and in communication with one end of the pipeline. The pig launching station has a pig parking chamber which holds a pig outside the primary product flow. The product recovery system has a pig catching station connected to and in communication with the destination end of the pipeline. The pig catching station includes a clean-in-place chamber for housing a pipeline pig while the pig is cleaned without removing the pig from the product recovery system. A valve may be used to push the pig out of the clean-in-place chamber so it may be returned up the pipeline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a pixel design which incorporates an in-pixel amplifier to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of an image sensor array while maintaining a high sensor fill factor. In addition, this pixel design allows for the addition of an amplifier without having to modify the fabrication process of current sensor arrays.

Abstract: Image transduction device pixel cells are described which have analog memory integrated with the pixel transduction elements and arrays made from such pixel cells. The integrated pixel cells are capable of storing information which, for example, can achieve a desired transduction transfer function for a given pixel transduction element. While the present invention may be used with any type of continuously variable, settable, and nonvolatile analog memory, the analog memory is beneficially based on a ferroelectric gate transistor comprised of an amorphous silicon transistor integrated with a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer or an amorphous silicon transistor with a charge storage dielectric gate layer.

Abstract: A photodiode sensor for use as a pixel element of a sensor array includes the sensor area segmented into a plurality of discrete portions. Each discrete portion has a distinctive responsiveness to incident illumination, either with regard to capacitance or sensitivity. The portions are in common communication with a data line for generating a sum charged output representative of the illumination on the cumulative sensor portions. Since the dynamic range of the cumulative discrete portions is greater than any single one sensor portion, a wider dynamic range for sensor operability is achieved.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of toxic materials, for example, inorganic compounds, halogenated organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) and chemical weapons such as Sarin and mustard. The process is based on the discovery that mechanical activation can induce chemical reactions which break down the molecular structure of toxic materials and form products which are simple, non-toxic compounds. The process involves subjecting a mixture of a toxic material and a suitable reagent to mechanical activation to produce a non-toxic end product or products. Mechanical activation is typically performed inside a mechanical mill, for example, a ball mill. Ball milling of various toxic materials with appropriate reagents was found to result in virtual total destruction of the toxic starting material.

Abstract: An image sensor array has overlapping responsive zones for detecting incident radiation. The sensor array includes a plurality of collection electrodes for sensing charge and a charge distribution layer in contact with the collection electrodes. The charge distribution layer is configured to distribute charge generated from incident radiation to more than one collection electrode, effectively providing overlapping responsive zones that reduce adverse aliasing effects.

Abstract: A polysilicon multiplexer for two-dimensional image sensor arrays is provided. Multiplexing the gate and data lines of a two-dimensional image sensor array greatly simplifies the packaging required for large devices with high resolution. The multiplex transistors are polysilicon for required read out speed. The multiplexer structure of polysilicon TFTs and sensor arrays of amorphous silicon TFTs are formed on a single substrate wherein the polysilicon TFTs are formed by laser crystallization on an outer periphery of the substrate.

Abstract: A radiation imaging method and system for use in various imaging techniques includes a source of radiation at first and second wavelengths. A first radiation target array receives the radiation from the first wavelength at first spacial locations to produce an array of output signals at locations within the first radiation target array related to the magnitude of the radiation at each of the first spacial locations. A second radiation target array receives the radiation at the second wavelength at second spacial locations to produce an array of output signals at locations within the second radiation target array related to the magnitude of the radiation at each of the second spacial locations. The first and second outputs are combined to produce combined image signals that has increased contrast from that which would be produced by either the first or the second output alone.