Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Frank Endlicher

Rudolf Koch

Heiner Herbst

Hans P Graasl

A method and apparatus for binary coding of sensor signals received from a number of optoelectronic sensor elements employ an evaluator associated with each sensor element for generating binary output signals corresponding to the amount of charge generated by the associated sensor element. Selected pairs of evaluators are connected to an electronic switch, with one of the evaluator outputs serving to actuate the switch for the purpose of undertaking a charge quantity comparison between the associated sensors which are disposed a small distance from one another. Each evaluator includes a converter consisting of a switching transistor and a load element connected in series, and a barrier transistor connecting the output of the associated sensor element with the input of the converter, and a reset transistor for connecting the converter input with a constant voltage source.

Method and apparatus for binary coding of sensor signals from

A monolithically integrated two-dimensional image sensor having an array of sensor elements disposed in rows and columns connected by respective row and column lines. A first readout of the sensor elements is undertaken and a charge packet representing the signal is formed by an oppositely doped semiconductor region connected to the respective column lines which charge packet contains charge carriers generated as a result of incident radiation as well as noise signals. A second readout of the sensor elements is undertaken for a short duration so that the charge packet generated as a result of the second readout represents only noise signals. A difference-forming stage connected to the image sensor has a storage capacitor associated with each column line for subsequently storing the two signals such that the voltage at the capacitor is displaced from a reference potential in an amount representing the difference between the two signals which thus provides a signal to a serial output device such as a charge transfer device which represents only charge carriers generated by incident radiation and is substantially noise-free. The capacitors are connected to a reset device for preparing the difference-forming stage for the next readout sequence.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Germany

Frank Endlicher