Photosensitive chip with shifted rows of photosensors and methods thereof

A method for processing optical data from a photosensitive chip, the chip including:

• a plurality of sets of photosensors arranged along an X direction, the photosensors within each set of photosensors aligned in a Y direction, perpendicular to the X direction, and the photosensors within said each set being offset, in the Y direction, relative to the photosensors of an adjacent set of photosensors, by a distance less than a length of a photosensor, comprising:
• conveying a sheet of material past the chip in a process direction parallel to the Y direction;
• and
• transmitting respective light-induced signals from the plurality of sets of photosensors in a predetermined sequence, wherein:
• the chip includes:
• a selection element electrically connected to the plurality of sets of photosensors;
• and
• a pixel amplifier electrically connected to the selection element;
• the transmitting respective light-induced signals from the plurality of sets of photosensors in a predetermined sequence includes transmitting, using the selection element, respective light-induced signals from the plurality of sets of photosensors to the pixel amplifier;
• the plurality of sets of photosensors includes a first number of photosensors;
• and
• a scan line for the plurality of sets of photosensors has a time period, the method further comprising activating respective photosensors in the plurality of sets of photosensors in sequence to begin accumulating charge with respect to incident light thereon, wherein a time interval between activation of two sequential photosensors in the sequence is substantially equal to the time period divided by the first number.

An apparatus for generating or reproducing a document, comprising:

• a conveyance element for transporting a sheet of material through the apparatus in a process direction;
• at least one photosensitive chip including a plurality of sets of photosensors arranged along an X direction, the photosensors within each set of photosensors aligned in a Y direction, perpendicular to the X direction and parallel to the process direction, and the photosensors within said each set being offset, in the Y direction, relative to the photosensors of an adjacent set of photosensors by a distance less than a length of a photosensor;
• and
• a computing device for operating upon light-induced signals from the plurality of sets of photosensors, wherein:
• the plurality of sets of photosensors includes a first number of sets;
• a scan line for the plurality of sets of photosensors has a time period;
• each photosensor in the plurality of sets of photosensors is activated in sequence to begin accumulating charge with respect to incident light thereon;
• and
• a time interval between activation of two sequential photosensors in the sequence is substantially equal to the time period divided by the first number.

A photosensitive chip, comprising:

• a first plurality of sets of photosensors including first and second sets of photosensors, the first and second sets each aligned in a Y direction and separated from each other in an X direction perpendicular to the Y direction;
• and,
• a second plurality of sets of photosensors including third and fourth sets of photosensors, the third and fourth sets each aligned in the Y direction and separated from each other and from the first and second sets of photosensors in the X direction, wherein:
• each photosensor in the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors includes respective side edges aligned in the Y direction and respective end edges aligned in the X direction;
• for each of the first, second, third and fourth sets of photosensors, respective first and second photosensors are filtered for first and second different colors, respectively;
• the first and third sets of photosensors are aligned in the X direction;
• the second and fourth sets of photosensors are aligned in the X direction;
• each photosensor in the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors has a length in the Y direction;
• and,
• the first and third sets of photosensor are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets of photosensors by a distance less than the length.

A method for processing optical data from a photosensitive chip, the chip including a first plurality of sets of photosensors with first and second sets of photosensors each aligned in a Y direction and separated from each other in an X direction perpendicular to the Y direction, and a second plurality of sets of photosensors including third and fourth sets of photosensors each aligned in the Y direction and separated from each other and from the first and second sets of photosensors in the X direction, the method comprising:

• conveying a sheet of material past the chip in a process direction parallel to the Y direction;
• filtering, for each of the first, second, third and fourth sets of photosensors, respective first and second photosensors for first and second different colors, respectively;
• and,
• transmitting respective light-induced signals from the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors in a predetermined sequence, wherein:
• the first and third sets of photosensors are aligned in the X direction;
• the second and fourth sets of photosensors are aligned in the X direction;
• each photosensor in the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors includes respective side edges aligned in the Y direction and respective end edges aligned in the X direction;
• each photosensor in the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors has a length in the Y direction;
• and
• the first and third sets of photosensors are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets of photosensors by a distance less than the length.

An apparatus for generating or reproducing a document, comprising:

• a conveyance element for transporting a sheet of material through the apparatus in a process direction;
• at least one photosensitive chip including:
• a first plurality of sets of photosensors including first and second sets of photosensors, the first and second sets each aligned in a Y direction and separated from each other in an X direction perpendicular to the Y direction;
• and,
• a second plurality of sets of photosensors including third and fourth sets of photosensors, the third and fourth sets each aligned in the Y direction and separated from each other and from the first and second sets of photosensors in the X direction;
• and,
• a computing device for operating upon light-induced signals from the plurality of sets of photosensors, wherein:
• each photosensor in the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors includes respective side edges aligned in the Y direction and respective end edges aligned in the X direction;
• for each of the first, second, third and fourth sets of photosensors, respective first and second photosensors are filtered for first and second different colors, respectively;
• the first and third sets of photosensors are aligned in the X direction;
• the second and fourth sets of photosensors are aligned in the X direction;
• each photosensor in the first and second pluralities of sets of photosensors has a length in the Y direction;
• and,
• the first and third sets of photosensor are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets of photosensors by a distance less than the length.