Time-delay-and-integrate image sensors having variable integration times
AssigneeTruesense Imaging, Inc.
InventorsJohn T. Compton, Edward T. Nelson, David N. Nichols
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various embodiments, a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) image sensor includes (i) a plurality of integrating CCDs (ICCDs), arranged in parallel, that accumulate photocharge in response to exposure to light, (ii) electrically coupled to the plurality of ICCDs, a readout CCD (RCCD) for receiving photocharge from the plurality of ICCDs, and (iii) electrically coupled to the RCCD, readout circuitry for converting charge received from the RCCD into voltage.
Claims26
An imaging system comprising:
- a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) image sensor comprising (i) a plurality of integrating CCDs (ICCDs), arranged in parallel, that accumulate photocharge in response to exposure to light, (ii) electrically coupled to the plurality of ICCDs, a readout CCD (RCCD) for receiving photocharge from the plurality of ICCDs, and (iii) electrically coupled to the RCCD, readout circuitry for converting charge received from the RCCD into voltage;
- an optical system for receiving light from a scene to be imaged and projecting it on the plurality of ICCDs;
- a leading sensor for receiving the light projected from the optical system prior to projection thereof on the plurality of ICCDs, thereby capturing a leading image of the scene;
- and
- a control system for controlling operation of the TDI image sensor based at least in part on at least a portion of the leading image.
A method of image capture utilizing a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) image sensor comprising (i) a plurality of integrating CCDs (ICCDs), arranged in parallel, that accumulate photocharge in response to exposure to light, (ii) electrically coupled to the plurality of ICCDs, a readout CCD (RCCD) for receiving photocharge from the plurality of ICCDs, and (iii) electrically coupled to the RCCD, readout circuitry for converting charge received from the RCCD into voltage, the method comprising:
- projecting light received from a scene to be imaged onto a leading sensor, the leading sensor capturing a leading image of the scene;
- thereafter, projecting light from the scene onto the plurality of ICCDs to capture a scene image;
- and
- during capture of the scene image, controlling operation of the TDI sensor based at least in part on at least a portion of the leading image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.