Texas Instruments Corporation

John Hull Berlien, Jr

Eugene G Dierschke

Cecil J Aswell

Carlo S Strippoli

A technique for serially controlling an array of optical sensor chips over a pair of signal lines. After broadcasting an initializing reset command to all chips over serial lines, a determine-address command is broadcast to commence unique address determination. On subsequent clock signals, each chip locks its address into an on-board register. Following this process, each chip can be addressed individually. Subsequently, when each array chip is directed to read data out, the data is output to a single common bus line to the controller. Alternatively, individual chip outputs may be connected directly to the controller, or the outputs of odd and even chip pairs may be tied together for broadcast readout of all odd chips or all even chips.

Addressing and communication for multiple-chip optical sensor arrays

An optical sensor array with zone-programmable gain and offset prior to A/D conversion for reducing quantization noise. The circuit comprises a register file which contains digital words for controlling gain and offset according to multi-pixel zones.

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

John Hull Berlien, Jr