The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 26, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1995
Mark E Whitebook, Dana Point, CA (US);
Paul P Suni, Los Gatos, CA (US);
John R Cover, Burbank, CA (US);
Orbit Semiconductor, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
New Image Industries, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for visualizing a scene in the form of image rays projecting along a path includes a plurality of charge coupled device detectors disposed along the path to receive the image rays and to collect data. This data includes both noise data which is collected at a generally constant rate, and image data which is collected when the image rays are present along the path. A clock which facilitates discharge of the data from the image array has a first state wherein the data is retained in the detectors, and a second state wherein the data is discharged from the detectors. An event detector including a plurality of charge coupled device detectors forms an event array which places the clock in the first state when the image rays are present along the path and places the clock in the second state when the image rays are absent from the path. Accordingly, the noise data which combines with the image data in the image detectors is limited to that which accumulates while the image rays are present along the path.