Sandia Corporation

Michael L Holmes

Randolph R Kay

David V Campbell

Thomas M Gurrieri

Kenneth Wojciechowski

Darwin K Serkland

Seethambal S Mani

Dahwey Chu

James Ewers Levy

Subhash L Shinde

Jeffrey L Rienstra

Joy M Barker

Robert Lovejoy

William S Cavanaugh

A modular, scalable focal plane array is provided as an array of integrated circuit dice, wherein each die includes a given amount of modular pixel array circuitry. The array of dice effectively multiplies the amount of modular pixel array circuitry to produce a larger pixel array without increasing die size. Desired pixel pitch across the enlarged pixel array is preserved by forming die stacks with each pixel array circuitry die stacked on a separate die that contains the corresponding signal processing circuitry. Techniques for die stack interconnections and die stack placement are implemented to ensure that the desired pixel pitch is preserved across the enlarged pixel array.

Focal plane array with modular pixel array components for scalability

An electronic device includes a memory configured to receive data representing light intensity values from pixels in a focal plane array and a processor that analyzes the received data to determine which light values correspond to triggered pixels, where the triggered pixels are those pixels that meet a predefined set of criteria, and determines, for each triggered pixel, a set of neighbor pixels for which light intensity values are to be stored. The electronic device also includes a buffer that temporarily stores light intensity values for at least one previously processed row of pixels, so that when a triggered pixel is identified in a current row, light intensity values for the neighbor pixels in the previously processed row and for the triggered pixel are persistently stored, as well as a data transmitter that transmits the persistently stored light intensity values for the triggered and neighbor pixels to a data receiver.

Smart trigger logic for focal plane arrays

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Michael L Holmes