Optoelectronic maximum identifier for detecting the physical location of

Abstract

A number of light sensitive/generating devices are arranged in rows and columns to thereby form an X-Y pixel matrix. All devices are interconnected to a source of operating voltage such that the first device to turn on, i.e., the first device to receive an actuating intensity of light is actuated to thereafter emit light. The current flow through this one activated device causes a voltage drop that prevents any other light sensitive/generating device from turning on. In this way, the pixel that receives the maximum light intensity is identified by its position in the X-Y matrix. Both optical and electrical means are provided to locate the X-Y matrix position of the activated light sensitive/generating device. In an optical embodiment, two orthogonal cylindrical lenses are placed in front of two linear CCDs in order to find the X-Y coordinates of the active light sensitive/generating device. In an electrical embodiment, the X-Y coordinates of the active light sensitive/generating device is electrical read out by reading the current through row/column resistors that are associated with the active light sensitive/generating device. The use of a saw tooth source of operating voltage enables determination of the illumination intensity of the maximum light intensity pixel.