Digital readout method and apparatus
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsMichael Kelly, Daniel Mooney, Curtis Colonero, Robert Berger, Lawrence Candell
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Abstract
Autonomously operating analog to digital converters are formed into a two dimensional array. The array may incorporate digital signal processing functionality. Such an array is particularly well-suited for operation as a readout integrated circuit and, in combination with a sensor array, forms a digital focal plane array.
Claims44
An apparatus comprising:
- a sensor array comprised of a plurality of sensing elements;
- and
- a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) arranged in a two-dimensional ADC array, each ADC within the ADC array being operably coupled to a respective sensing element and comprising:
- (i) a capacitance to integrate current generated by the respective sensing element and
- (ii) a converter operably coupled to the capacitance and configured to convert an analog signal from the capacitance to a series of pulse.
A method of analog-to-digital conversion, the method comprising:
- generating an analog signal at a sensing element in a plurality of sensing elements;
- transferring the analog signal from the sensing element to a corresponding, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCS) arranged in a two-dimensional array;
- integrating the analog signal in a capacitance in the corresponding ADC;
- converting charge integrated in the capacitance into digital data representative of the analog signal;
- measuring motion of the plurality of sensing elements;
- and
- compensating for the measured motion by transferring digital data among adjacent ADCs in the two-dimensional array.
A method of analog-to-digital conversion, the method comprising:
- generating an analog signal at a sensing element in a plurality of sensing elements;
- transferring the analog signal from the sensing element to a corresponding analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) arranged in a two-dirriensional array;
- integrating the analog signal in a capacitance in the corresponding ADC;
- discharging the capacitance to produce a current;
- and
- converting the current into a series of pulses.
An apparatus for processing data, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) arranged in a two-dimensional array, each ADC in the plurality of ADCs being associated with a respective counter and configured to decrement a count in its respective counter,
- wherein each ADC in the plurality of ADCs is configured to transfer data from its respective counter to one or more adjacent ADCs in the two-dimensional array.
An apparatus for processing data, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) arranged in a two-dimensional array each ADC in the plurality of ADCs being associated with a respective counter and configured to decrement a count in its respective counter,
- wherein each ADC in the plurality of ADCS is configured to control an accumulation time of its respective counter.
A method for processing data in a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) arranged in a two-dimensional array, each ADC in the two-dimensional array including a counter, the method comprising:
- generating digital data that represents an analog signal using, at least one of the ADCs in the two-dimensional array of ADCs;
- decrementing a count in at least one of the counters based on the digital data;
- storing n bits in at least one of the counters;
- and
- performing modulo n arithmetic on the stored bits using the plurality of ADCs.
An apparatus comprising:
- a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensing elements;
- and
- a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) arranged in a two-dimensional ADC array, each ADC within the ADC array being operably coupled to a respective sensing element to receive an analog input, each ADC being further configured to generate a digital output based on the analog input, without an analog ramp signal or analog reference signal supplied by an outside source external to the ADC.
A method of analog-to-digital conversion, the method comprising:
- generating an analog signal at a sensing element in a plurality of sensing elements;
- transferring the analog signal from the sensing element to a corresponding analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a plurality of analog-to-digital, converters (ADCs) arranged, in a two-dimensional array;
- and
- generating at the corresponding ADC digital data representative of the analog signal without comparing the analog signal to anonalog ramp signal or analog reference signal supplied by an outside source external to the corresponding ADC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.