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:
Jul. 14, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 03, 2008
Steven Edward Muenter, Van Nuys, CA (US);
Richard H. Burns, North Hollywood, CA (US);
Steven Edward Muenter, Van Nuys, CA (US);
Richard H. Burns, North Hollywood, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a focal plane array with serial, variable bit width analog to digital converter. The focal plane array includes a plurality of pixels and a dynamically reconfigurable analog to digital converter. The controller determines a number of digital output bits required to generate digital output at a selected conversion resolution. A sample and hold circuit holds an analog voltage from a pixel to form a captured analog signal. A one-bit converter stage processes an instance of a captured analog signal to generate an output bit. The controller iteratively processes a residue voltage through the one-bit converter stage a number of times required to generate the number of digital output bits to form a digital output with the user defined conversion resolution.