Xerox Corporation

Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Acuson Corporation

Jeffrey T Rahn

Robert Anthony Street

Ping Mei

Raj B Apte

Matthew N O'Donnell

Jeng Ping Lu

John I Jackson

Koenraad F Van Schuylenbergh

Constantine Simopoulos

Anming He Cai

Kutay F &Uuml;st&uuml;ner

An imaging system includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, a common ground line, a plurality of capacitors and an array of pixels that are alternately arranged so that the common ground line is shared by the plurality of capacitors and shared by at least two rows or columns of pixels. A method of forming an array of pixels in an imaging system includes forming a plurality of gate lines, forming a plurality of data lines, forming a common ground line, forming a plurality of capacitors and forming the array of pixels to be alternately arranged so that the common ground line is shared by the plurality of capacitors and shared by at least two rows of pixels.

Imaging systems and methods including an alternating pixel arrangement

An imaging system can include at least a two-dimensional array of pixels, an input device that includes a sensor that provides an electronic signal that represents to the image two-dimensional array of pixels, and a controller, the electronic signal is controlled by a controller so that the electronic signal is either stored in the first capacitor, or stored in the second capacitor. The electronic signal can also be controlled by the controller so that the electronic signal is either stored in the first capacitor during a phase of one of the control signals, or not stored in the first capacitor during a phase of another one of the control signals. The system permits a dynamic response time for properly managing frame times associated with a large number of pixels so that the images will not appear as blurry images when they are displayed.

Pixel circuitry for imaging system

The signal-to-noise ratio of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) image sensor arrays is limited by electronic noise, which is largely due to data line capacitance. To reduce data line capacitance, an air-gap (i.e., vacuum or gas-filled space) is produced at crossover points separating the data lines and gate lines. This air-gap crossover structure is formed by depositing a release material on the gate lines, forming the data lines on the release material, and then removing (etching) the release material such that the data lines form an arch extending over the gate lines. A dielectric material is then applied to strengthen the data line, and the sensor pixels are then formed.

Low data line capacitance image sensor array using air-gap metal crossover

Improved pixel circuits are disclosed for high fill-factor large area imager systems using continuous (e.g., amorphous silicon) sensor layers. A first approach prevents crosstalk by ensuring that each pixel is not able to go into saturation. A second approach employs a cascode transistor to maintain the bias of the sensor contact at a constant potential regardless of illumination condition. These two approaches may be combined. A resistive film connecting the pixel contacts may be used in conjunction with the second approach to prevent aliasing of signal and noise.

Image sensor array with reduced pixel crosstalk

A medical ultrasonic imaging system uses an adaptive multi-dimensional back-end mapping stage to eliminate loss of information in the back-end, minimize any back-end quantization noise, reduce or eliminate electronic noise, and map the local average of soft tissue to a target display value throughout the image. The system uses spatial variance to identify regions of the image corresponding substantially to soft tissue and a noise frame acquired with the transmitters turned off to determine the mean system noise level. The system then uses the mean noise level and the identified regions of soft tissue to both locally and adaptively set various back-end mapping stages, including the gain and dynamic range.

Medical ultrasonic imaging system with adaptive multi-dimensional back-end mapping

Image contrast grids include a body having openings and an x-ray absorbing material in the openings. The openings can be formed by various micromachining techniques and the x-ray absorbing material can be formed in the openings by various coating and deposition techniques. The image contrast grids can have contoured surfaces for improved focusing capabilities. The image contrast grids can remove Compton scattered x-rays in two, non-normal dimensions. The openings can be formed with fine structures that are not visible in most imaging modes.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey T Rahn