Appeal No. 2006-1049
Application No. 09/667,826
Figure 2 illustrates a focal plane array 10 of pixels arranged into an array of M
columns and N rows (col. 8, lines 63-67).
19. The focal plane array 10 of Figure 2 operates as follows (col. 8,
line 67 through col. 9, line 17):
The readout circuit includes a plurality of readout cells 100, MxN in
number, corresponding to each pixel. The individual readout cells
illustrated in FIG. 2 are read out by a plurality of column and row
address lines 102, 104, respectively. Thus, as illustrated, a plurality of
column address lines 102 provide respective column select (CS)
signals CS1, CS2 . . . CSM, corresponding to each column of the MxN
array, to corresponding switches 110. Similarly, a plurality of row
address lines 104 provide respective row select (RS) signals RS1, RS2
. . . RSN corresponding to the N rows of the MxN focal plane array to
row select switches 112. The column select and row select signals are
strobed so as to read out the individual readout cells 100 in a desired
manner, for example, in a raster scan row-by-row readout pattern or
any other desired readout sequence. The output from each readout cell
100 is thus provided in a time multiplexed manner to serial output line
20 illustrated in FIG. 1.
20. The readout of the individual readout cells 100 may preferably be
provided in a multiplexed manner. For example, as illustrated, the readout cells
100 may be multiplexed through output multiplexer (MUX) logic 120 and
associated output buffers 106 and output switches 122. The output MUX logic 120
in turn receives the focal plane array timing signals 22, and generates output
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Last modified: November 3, 2007