Self-scanning photo diode array

Claim 2

A self-scanning photo-sensor array comprising: a plurality of photo-sensing devices; a scan generator cooperatively coupled to said devices for scanning said devices, said generator including means for receiving a start signal and means for preventing a start signal from being applied to said generator when said generator is scanning said devices; whereby a video output signal from said devices shall be representative of a scan of said devices since only a single scan will be occurring at a given time.

Claim 3

The array defined in claim 1 wherein said photosensing devices comprise a row of photo-diodes.

Claim 4

The array defined in claim 2 wherein said scan generator includes a shift register.

Claim 5

The array defined in claim 3 wherein said scan generator comprises a shift register and a NOR gate, said gate being disposed between said shift register and said row of photo-diodes.

Claim 6

The array defined in claim 4 wherein said scan generator and row of photo-diodes comprise MOS devices.

Claim 7

A self-scanning photo-sensor array comprising: a row of photo-sensing devices; a scan generator for scanning said devices said scan generator comprising a plurality of shift register stages, said stages being coupled to said photo-sensing devices for accessing said devices; and a plurality of NOR gates coupled between said scan generator and photo-sensing devices, said NOR gates providing an output signal when said row of photo-sensing devices are being accessed by said scan generator, said output signal being adapted to prevent the entry of any additional signals into said scan generator; whereby a video output signal from said photo-sensing devices is representative of the incident light on said photo-sensing devices and a further start signal may not be entered into said scan generator until said accessing of said photo-sensing device is complete.

Claim 8

A self-scanning photo-sensor array comprising: a row of photo-sensing devices; a scan generator for scanning said devices said scan generator comprising a plurality of shift register stages, said stages being coupled to said photo-sensing devices for accessing said devices; and a plurality of NOR gates coupled between said scan generator and photo-sensing devices, said NOR gates providing an output signal when said row of photo-sensing devices are being accessed by said scan generator, said output signal being adapted to prevent the entry of any additional signals into said scan generator; whereby a video output signal from said photo-sensing devices is representative of the incident light on said photo-sensing devices and a further start signal may not be entered into said scan generator until said accessing of said photo-sensing device is complete.

Claim 9

The array defined in claim 6 wherein the even numbered stages of said generator are disposed on one side of said row of devices and the odd numbered stages of the scan generator are disposed on the other side of said row of devices.

Claim 10

The array defined in claim 7 wherein said photo-sensing devices comprise photo-diodes.

Claim 11

The array defined in claim 8 including leads disposed between said diodes to interconnect the odd and even numbered stages of said scan generator.

Claim 12

The array defined in claim 9 including means for pReventing a start signal from being applied to said generator when a scan is occurring, said means coupled to said NOR gates, and said NOR gates disposed between said stages of said shift register and said row of photo-diodes, and wherein all of said devices, gates, means and generator are MOS devices.

Claim 13

The array defined in claim 10 wherein said scan generator, NOR gates and said row of photo-diodes comprise MOS devices and are all fabricated on a single chip.

Claim 14

The array defined in claim 11 including means for receiving a low level timing signal and for generating a high level timing signal for controlling the rate at which said shift register scans said photo-diodes, said means being incorporated on the said single chip.

Claim 15

A self-scanning photo-sensor array comprising: a row of photo-sensing devices; a scan generator including a shift register cooperatively coupled to said devices for scanning said devices; logic means for receiving a start signal and for preventing a start signal from being applied to said shift register when said generator is scanning said devices; switching means for receiving a command signal, said switching means coupled between said row of photo-sensing devices and said shift register for causing a signal in said shift register to be lost upon the receipt of said command signal; whereby when a command signal is applied to said switching means said scan is terminated and hence the array may be utilized as a variable length array and the scan readily terminated.

Claim 16

A self-scanning photo-sensor array comprising: a row of photo-sensing devices; a scan generator including a shift register cooperatively coupled to said devices for scanning said devices; logic means for receiving a start signal and for preventing a start signal from being applied to said shift register when said generator is scanning said devices; switching means for receiving a command signal, said switching means coupled between said row of photo-sensing devices and said shift register for causing a signal in said shift register to be lost upon the receipt of said command signal; whereby when a command signal is applied to said switching means said scan is terminated and hence the array may be utilized as a variable length array and the scan readily terminated.

Claim 17

The array defined in claim 13 wherein said photo-sensing devices comprise photo-diodes.

Claim 18

The array defined in claim 14 wherein said photo-diodes, shift register, and switching means comprise MOS devices.

Claim 19

In a semiconductor photo-sensing array in a semiconductor chip the improvement comprising: a plurality of semiconductor photo-sensing devices located in one area of a semiconductor chip; and a shift register formed from semiconductor devices formed in said same chip, said register comprising a plurality of stages including even numbered stages and odd numbered stages, said odd numbered stages located on one side of said area containing said photo-sensing devices and said even numbered stages located on the other side of said area containing said photo-sensing devices, said odd and even stages interconnected and connected to said photo-sensing devices to enable said photo-sensing devices to be accessed, whereby said arrangement of said shift register stages and said array of photo-sensing devices provide symmetry which minimizes switching transients and provides a better signal to noise ratio.

Claim 20

In a semiconductor photo-sensing array in a semiconductor chip the improvement comprising: a plurality of semiconductor photo-sensing devices located in one area of a semiconductor chip; and a shift register formed from semiconductor devices formed in said same chip, said register comprising a plurality of stages including even numbered stages and odd numbered stages, said odd numbered stages located on one side of said area containing said photo-sensing devices and said even numbered stages located on the other side of said area containing said photo-sensing devices, said odd and even stages interconnected and connected to said photo-sensing devices to enable said photo-sensing devices to be accessed, whereby said arrangement of said shift register stages and said array of photo-sensing devices provide symmetry which minimizes switching transients and provides a better signal to noise ratio.