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:
Nov. 04, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 12, 2001
John L. Lowrance, Princeton, NJ (US);
George F. Renda, Princeton, NJ (US);
Princeton Scientific Instruments, Monmouth Junction, NJ (US);
Abstract
A matrix array of photo elements (pixels) arranged in rows and columns with at least one row conductor per row of the matrix and a column conductor per column of the matrix for selectively the pixels. Each pixel of the matrix array includes: (a) a photodetector for detecting light pulses incident on the pixel and producing an output signal indicative of an incident light pulse; (b) signal processing circuitry coupled to the photodetector and responsive to its output signal for generating an electrical pulse corresponding to each incident light pulse; and (c) counting circuitry coupled to the signal processing circuitry for storing information indicative of the number of light pulses incident on the photodector during a sensing period. Row and column decoders are respectively coupled to the row and column conductors of the matrix array for reading out the contents of the array a row at time and for resetting the pixels of each row after their contents have been read out.