Voltage reading technique for large sensor arrays through reduced noise differential path
AssigneeNext Biometrics AS
InventorMatias N. Troccoli
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Abstract
An active sensor apparatus includes an array of sensor elements arranged in a plurality of columns and rows of sensor elements. The sensor apparatus includes a plurality of column and row thin film transistor switches for selectively activating the sensor elements, and a plurality of column and row thin film diodes for selectively accessing the sensor elements to obtain information from the sensor elements. The thin film transistor switches and thin film diodes are formed on a common substrate.
Claims18
An active sensor apparatus, comprising:
- an array of sensor elements, the array including a plurality of columns and rows of the sensor elements;
- a plurality of column and row thin film transistor switches for selectively activating the sensor elements;
- and
- a plurality of column and row thin film diodes for selectively accessing the sensor elements to obtain information from the sensor elements, wherein the thin film transistor switches and thin film diodes are formed on a common substrate.
An apparatus for measuring a pattern in a surface of an object comprising:
- an array of sensor elements, the array including a plurality of columns and rows of the sensor elements, the sensor elements being responsive to a physical parameter of the object surface;
- a current source;
- a plurality of column and row thin film transistor switches for selectively connecting the sensor elements to the current source for activation;
- and
- a plurality of column and row thin film diodes for selectively accessing the sensor elements to obtain a differential signal representative of the physical parameter from the sensor elements, wherein the thin film transistor switches and thin film diodes are formed on a common substrate.
An active sensor apparatus, comprising:
- an array of sensor elements, the array including a plurality of sensor elements coupled to a plurality of column lines and a plurality of row lines;
- a current source for providing current to the sensor elements upon selection of a sensing element for activation;
- a plurality of polysilicon thin film transistor switches coupled to the column and row lines for selectively activating the sensor elements;
- and
- a plurality polysilicon thin film diodes coupled to ends of the column and row lines for selectively accessing the sensor elements for reading information from the sensor elements,
- wherein each of the thin film diodes coupled to a column line is arranged such that it is forward biased when a corresponding thin film transistor switch coupled to the column line is triggered to select the column line,
- wherein each of the thin film diodes coupled to a row line is arranged such that it is forward biased when a corresponding thin film transistor switch coupled to the row line is triggered to select the row line, and
- wherein the thin film transistor switches and thin film diodes are formed on a common substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.