Patents by Inventor Robert S. Hannebauer
Robert S. Hannebauer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7796172Abstract: In a readout bus architecture having a first column, a readout means is coupled to a photodetector and configured to transfer charge from the photodetector. A select means is coupled to the photodetector and is configured to transfer charge from the photodetector. An address circuit is coupled to the first column through the select means and is configured to generate and decode an address and turn on the select means for the first column if the address matched the first column and if the address circuit received a corrected enable signal indicating that the first column is not defective. A correction circuit is coupled to the address circuit and is configured to generate the corrected enable signal indicating that the first column is not defective if the correction circuit determined that the first column is not defective.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Foveon, Inc.Inventors: Timothy M. Slagle, Robert S. Hannebauer, Richard B. Merrill, Peter J. Manca
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Patent number: 6960757Abstract: Vertical-color-filter pixel sensors having simplified wiring and reduced transistor counts are disclosed. In an embodiment, a single line is used for reference voltage, pixel reset voltage, and column-output signals in a VCF pixel sensor. In another embodiment, row-reset signals and row-enable signals are sent across a line that is shared between adjacent rows in an array of VCF pixel sensors. The present invention also provides an optimized layout for a VCF pixel sensor with shared row-reset, row-enable, reference voltage and column-output lines as well as a VCF pixel sensor in which source-follower voltage, source-follower amplifier voltage and row-enable signals all share a common line. These combined line embodiments can be used with a single column-output line as well as two row-enable lines. The embodiments can also be implemented in a VCF pixel sensor without a row-enable transistor.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Foveon, Inc.Inventors: Richard B. Merrill, Robert S. Hannebauer, Glenn J. Keller, James Tornes
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Patent number: 6937025Abstract: A current sensing method and circuit for reading out a sensor cell, and a sensing apparatus comprising an array of sensor cells arranged along column lines and a current sensing readout circuit coupled to each column line. The sensor cell is configured to assert a sensor current indicative of a sensed value. In operation, an input node of the readout circuit is coupled to the sensor cell, typically by a column line of a sensor array that includes the sensor cell. Preferably, to read out the sensor cell, the sensor current flows from the sensor cell to the input node and in response, the readout circuit charges a capacitor to a voltage indicative of the sensed value while clamping the input node at a potential that is at least substantially fixed.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Foveon, Inc.Inventors: Edison Fong, Robert S. Hannebauer, Richard B. Merrill
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Patent number: 6841816Abstract: A vertical color filter sensor group formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors. In preferred embodiments, the sensor group includes at least one filter positioned relative to the sensors such that radiation that has propagated through or reflected from the filter will propagate into at least one sensor. Preferably, the filter is or includes a layer that has been integrated with the sensors by a semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication process. In other embodiments, the sensor group includes a micro-lens. Other aspects of the invention are arrays of vertical color filter sensor groups, some or all of which include at least one filter or micro-lens, and methods for fabricating vertical color filter sensor groups and arrays thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Foveon, Inc.Inventors: Richard B. Merrill, Richard F. Lyon, Richard M. Turner, Robert S. Hannebauer, Russel A. Martin
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Publication number: 20040185597Abstract: Vertical-color-filter pixel sensors having simplified wiring and reduced transistor counts are disclosed. In an embodiment, a single line is used for reference voltage, pixel reset voltage, and column-output signals in a VCF pixel sensor. In another embodiment, row-reset signals and row-enable signals are sent across a line that is shared between adjacent rows in an array of VCF pixel sensors. The present invention also provides an optimized layout for a VCF pixel sensor with shared row-reset, row-enable, reference voltage and column-output lines as well as a VCF pixel sensor in which source-follower voltage, source-follower amplifier voltage and row-enable signals all share a common line. These combined line embodiments can be used with a single column-output line as well as two row-enable lines. The embodiments can also be implemented in a VCF pixel sensor without a row-enable transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: Foveon, Inc.Inventors: Richard B. Merrill, Robert S. Hannebauer, Glenn J. Keller, James Tornes
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Patent number: 6794627Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of active pixel sensors arranged in an array. Each active pixel sensor includes a photosensor that generates a sensor signal nominally indicative of an intensity of light incident on the photosensor and a follower-type amplifier that couples the sensor signal to an output of the active pixel sensor to provide a buffered sensor signal. A column line is provided for each column in the array, and each column line is coupled to the output of the active pixel sensors associated with that column.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Foveon, Inc.Inventors: Richard F. Lyon, Robert S. Hannebauer, Richard M. Turner, Carver A. Mead
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Publication number: 20040178465Abstract: A vertical color filter sensor group formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors. In preferred embodiments, the sensor group includes at least one filter positioned relative to the sensors such that radiation that has propagated through or reflected from the filter will propagate into at least one sensor. Preferably, the filter is or includes a layer that has been integrated with the sensors by a semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication process. In other embodiments, the sensor group includes a micro-lens. Other aspects of the invention are arrays of vertical color filter sensor groups, some or all of which include at least one filter or micro-lens, and methods for fabricating vertical color filter sensor groups and arrays thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2003Publication date: September 16, 2004Applicant: FOVEON, INC.Inventors: Richard B. Merrill, Richard F. Lyon, Richard M. Turner, Robert S. Hannebauer, Russel A. Martin
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Publication number: 20030164441Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of active pixel sensors arranged in an array. Each active pixel sensor includes a photosensor that generates a sensor signal nominally indicative of an intensity of light incident on the photosensor and a follower-type amplifier that couples the sensor signal to an output of the active pixel sensor to provide a buffered sensor signal. A column line is provided for each column in the array, and each column line is coupled to the output of the active pixel sensors associated with that column.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2001Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: Richard F. Lyon, Robert S. Hannebauer, Richard M. Turner, Carver A. Mead
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Patent number: 5841807Abstract: In summary, the spread spectrum direct sequence communication system of the present invention has a plurality of transmitters for uni-directionally simultaneously transmitting, through a transmission medium to a single receiver, a plurality of data streams. Each transmitter transmits a single data stream. Each data stream comprises a plurality of direct sequence data packets. Each transmitter has a data collector, a data formatter, a transmission device, a transmission interface, and a power supply.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1996Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Intracoastal System Engineering CorporationInventors: Robert S. Hannebauer, Sean C. Carroll, Xu Tan
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Patent number: 4845496Abstract: An electro-optical displacement sensor comprises an optical source including a plurality of optical grating lines for producing from an incident optical signal a transmitted optical signal having a spatially periodic intensity pattern. Optical sensing means receives the transmitted signal as an input across a plurality of optical receptors, each of which receptors provides an output signal corresponding to the amplitude of the transmitted signal as sensed by the receptor. The receptors are spaced one from the other by a distance different from the fundamental spatial wavelength of the transmitted signal. Signal conditioning means derive a signal vector from the receptor output signals, the signal vector than being processed to derive first and second independent component signals. The component signals are then combined to produce an interpolated phase signal corresponding to the interpolated position of the grating lines relative to the optical receptors.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1987Date of Patent: July 4, 1989Inventors: Roger G. Dower, Dale C. Penner, Robert S. Hannebauer