Substitution of defective readout circuits in imagers
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorsRosanne Tinkler, Allen Hairston
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Abstract
An imaging system configured with readout circuit redundancy is disclosed. Pixel data from a particular column can be steered around a defective readout circuit to an operational readout circuit. Thus, larger imaging arrays which are generally more prone to common column circuitry defects are enabled. In addition, imaging systems configured with significant on-chip signal processing, which are also more prone to common column circuitry defects, are enabled. The occurrence of lost pixel data from an entire column is eliminated or otherwise reduced, thereby increasing overall operability and yield of the imaging system. The system can be implemented on a single chip or a chip set.
Claims20
An imaging system with redundant readout capability, comprising:
- a focal plane array having a plurality of detector columns;
- and
- a column steering module configured to receive output from each of the detector columns, and to switch the output from each of the detector columns to two or more readout circuits.
An imaging system with redundant readout capability, comprising:
- a switch select circuit;
- and
- a plurality of switches responsive to the switch select circuit, so as to selectively couple each detector column output of an imaging array to two or more readout circuits.
An imaging system comprising:
- a primary readout circuit adapted to receive and process image data from an imaging array;
- and
- a redundant readout circuit for replacing the primary readout circuit if that primary readout circuit fails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.