High density photodetection array

Claim 2

A photodetection array comprising: a row of photo-sensitive devices disposed on a substrate; at least two shift counters disposed one on each side of said row of photo-sensitive devices on said substrate, each shift counter being coupled to alternate photo-sensitive devices in said row of photo-sensitive devices; at least two video lines disposed on said substrate each coupled to alternate photo-sensitive devices; and timing means for simultaneously driving said two shift counters such that said photo-sensitive devices in said row are sequentially selected; whereby as said row of devices are selected signals representative of the light incident on said row of photosensitive devices may be detected on said video lines.

Claim 3

A photodetection array defined by claim 1 wherein each photo-sensitive device comprises a photodiode and a swItching means.

Claim 4

The photodetection array defined by claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises silicon.

Claim 5

A photodiode array comprising: an upper and lower shift counter in juxtaposition disposed on a substrate; an elongated aperture region disposed between said upper and lower shift counters on said substrate; a plurality of pairs of photodiodes, forming a row disposed between said shift counters disposed on said substrate, each pair comprising an upper diode coupled to said upper shift counter having a first photo-sensitive region extending into said aperture region and a larger second region disposed between said aperture region and upper shift counter; a lower diode coupled to said lower shift counter having a first photo-sensitive region extending into said aperture region, adjacent to said first photo-sensitive region of said upper diode and a second larger region disposed between said aperture region and said lower shift counter such that said upper and lower diodes form an interlocking pattern; at least one upper video line disposed between said aperture region and said upper shift counter on said substrate, coupled to said upper diodes; at least one lower video line disposed between said aperture region and said lower shift counter on said substrate coupled to said lower diodes; and, timing means for simultaneously driving said upper and lower shift counters such that said photodiodes in said row are sequentially selected; whereby as said row of photodiodes are sequentially selected signals representative of the incident light on said row of photodiodes may be sensed on said video lines.

Claim 6

A photodiode array comprising: an upper and lower shift counter in juxtaposition disposed on a substrate; an elongated aperture region disposed between said upper and lower shift counters on said substrate; a plurality of pairs of photodiodes, forming a row disposed between said shift counters disposed on said substrate, each pair comprising an upper diode coupled to said upper shift counter having a first photo-sensitive region extending into said aperture region and a larger second region disposed between said aperture region and upper shift counter; a lower diode coupled to said lower shift counter having a first photo-sensitive region extending into said aperture region, adjacent to said first photo-sensitive region of said upper diode and a second larger region disposed between said aperture region and said lower shift counter such that said upper and lower diodes form an interlocking pattern; at least one upper video line disposed between said aperture region and said upper shift counter on said substrate, coupled to said upper diodes; at least one lower video line disposed between said aperture region and said lower shift counter on said substrate coupled to said lower diodes; and, timing means for simultaneously driving said upper and lower shift counters such that said photodiodes in said row are sequentially selected; whereby as said row of photodiodes are sequentially selected signals representative of the incident light on said row of photodiodes may be sensed on said video lines.

Claim 7

A photodetection array comprising: a first and a second shift counter in juxtaposition disposed on a substrate; a row of photo-sensitive devices disposed between said shift counters on said substrate, with every other photo-sensitive device in said row being coupled to said first shift counter and with said remaining photo-sensitive devices in said row being coupled to said second shift counter; a first video line, disposed between said first shift counter and said row of phoo-sensitive devices on said substrate, said first video line being coupled to said every other photo-sensitive device in said row; and a second video line, disposed between said second shift counter and said row of photo-sensitive devices on said substrate, said second video line being coupled to said remaining photo-sensitive devices in said row; and, timing means for simultaneously driving said first and second shift counters such that said photo-sensitive devices in said row of devices are sequentially selected; whereby as said row of devices are selected signals representative of the light incident on said row of photo-sensitive devices may be detected on said video lines.

Claim 8

A photodetection array comprising: a first and a second shift counter in juxtaposition disposed on a substrate; a row of photo-sensitive devices disposed between said shift counters on said substrate, with every other photo-sensitive device in said row being coupled to said first shift counter and with said remaining photo-sensitive devices in said row being coupled to said second shift counter; a first video line, disposed between said first shift counter and said row of phoo-sensitive devices on said substrate, said first video line being coupled to said every other photo-sensitive device in said row; and a second video line, disposed between said second shift counter and said row of photo-sensitive devices on said substrate, said second video line being coupled to said remaining photo-sensitive devices in said row; and, timing means for simultaneously driving said first and second shift counters such that said photo-sensitive devices in said row of devices are sequentially selected; whereby as said row of devices are selected signals representative of the light incident on said row of photo-sensitive devices may be detected on said video lines.

Claim 9

The photodetection array defined by claim 5 wherein said photo-sensitive devices include photodiodes which are electrically charged, and the charging current is sensed on said video lines.

Claim 10

The photodetection array defined in claim 6 wherein each photo-sensitive device also includes a semiconductor switching means disposed on said substrate which is coupled between the respective shift counters and photodiodes, and which on command from said shift counter completes an electrical path between said photodiode and respective video lines.

Claim 11

The photodetection array defined in claim 7 wherein said substrate is silicon and said photo-sensitive devices and shift counters are MOS devices.