EP0091798A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Solid state image sensor
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1983-04-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A high-resolution image sensor uses integrated arrays (11) of photosensitive elements in connection with a lens system (21a, 21b) which projects, onto the arrays, an erect, unmargnified, unreversed real image of the object (32) being sensed (such as a line of a document). The arrays are staggered in two or more rows so that a single, large integrated array need not be used, yet the entire width of the document line can be covered by photosensitive elements while a 1:1 ratio is maintained between object size and image size. The real image is produced on the two or more rows of arrays of two or more optical systems which have a large depth-of-focus to allow for some variation in object distance. The sensor has a high image quality and is capable of detecting color.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuo Hosaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/03; H04N1/031; H04N1/0311; H04N1/0312; H04N1/0315; H04N1/04; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/192; H04N1/193; H04N1/1934; H04N1/1935; H04N1/1936; H04N1/46; H04N1/48; H04N1/486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A solid state image sensor for converting a line of picture elements from a document into electrical signals representative of the picture elements, said solid state image sensor characterized by comprising: a source (31) of light to illuminate the line; a plurality of rows of integrated photosensor arrays (lla to llh), each of said arrays including a plurality of photosensors to convert incident light to electrical signals; an optical system (21a, 21b) between said line and each of said rows to transmit reflected light from the line to said arrays, said optical system projecting onto said arrays an unreversed and unmagnified light image of the line of picture elements; and transport means (42) connected to said arrays (41) for transporting the electrical signals to an output terminal (43), said arrays being arranged among said rows in such a manner that an image of each picture element is formed on at least one array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A solid state image sensor for converting a line of picture elements from a document into electrical signals representative of the picture elements, said solid state image sensor characterized by comprising: a source (31) of light to illuminate the line; a plurality of rows of integrated photosensor arrays (lla to llh), each of said arrays including a plurality of photosensors to convert incident light to electrical signals; an optical system (21a, 21b) between said line and each of said rows to transmit reflected light from the line to said arrays, said optical system projecting onto said arrays an unreversed and unmagnified light image of the line of picture elements; and transport means (42) connected to said arrays (41) for transporting the electrical signals to an output terminal (43), said arrays being arranged among said rows in such a manner that an image of each picture element is formed on at least one array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 1 characterized in that said arrays (lla to llg) of each row are staggered relative to said arrays (llb to llh) of adjacent rows so that portions of said arrays in different rows overlap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 2 characterized in that said transport means comprises an integrated output register (42) connected to each of said photosensor arrays (41) to receive therefrom a parallel transfer of the electrical signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 3 characterized in that each of said arrays is formed on a separate semiconductor chip along with said connected output register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 4 characterized in that said photosensors and said output registers comprise charge-coupled devices (CCD's).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 2 or 3 characterized in that an image of each picture element is projected onto at least two adjacent photosensors in the same array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 6 characterized by further comprising: a filter of a first color between said optical system and at least one of said photosensors; and a filter of a second color between said optical system and at least another one of said photosensors; said optical system projecting the image of each picture element through at least one of said filters of each color.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 1 characterized in that said optical system comprises self-focusing rod-lens-arrays (21a, 21b).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 8 characterized in that said optical system projects onto said arrays an erect, real image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solid state image sensor of claim 7 characterized in that said optical system projects the. image of each picture element through a plurality of adjacent filters of each color.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
The solid state sensor array of claim 1 characterized in that said photosensor arrays of each row are staggered relative to said arrays of adjacent rows so that portions of said arrays in different rows overlap to produce redundant electrical signals; that signal processing means (52, 53, 54) are connected to said transport means for processing the electrical signals; and that memory means (55) are connected to said signal processing means for processing the electrical signals, said memory means including memory control means for reading out the processed electrical signals except for the redundant electrical signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The solid state image sensor array of claim 11 characterized in that the redundant electrical signals are produced at one of said ends of each array except the last of said arrays.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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