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US4846559A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sensor element with a memory for abnormal changes of the incident light intensity

Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1987-01-16
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2007-01-16
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Abstract

Abstract A sensor element with a memory for changes of the incident light intensity. The sensor element comprises a light-sensitive element connected in series with a fixed resistor, and a light modulator shunted either across the light-sensitive element or the resistor. The light modulator influences the incidence of light onto the light-sensitive element. The reflection, absorption and/or transmission behavior of the light modulator changes as a function of the applied voltage or the current. The sensor element according to the invention has the advantage that it can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively so that it is also suitable for use in large arrays.

Inventors

  • 👤 Norbert Kniffler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 03:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/10; G01J1/20; G01J1/22; G01J1/24; G01J1/26; G01J1/02; G01J2001/0276

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
A sensor element having a memory for changes of the incident light intensity, comprising a light-sensitive element connected in series with a resistor, either the light-sensitive element or the resistor being shunted by a light modulator which influences the light incident on the light-sensitive element, said modulator having a reflection, absorption and/or transmission behavior which changes as a function of the voltage applied to the modulator or the current through the modulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 72 words
A sensor element having a memory for changes of the incident light intensity, comprising a light-sensitive element connected in series with a resistor, either the light-sensitive element or the resistor being shunted by a light modulator which influences the light incident on the light-sensitive element, said modulator having a reflection, absorption and/or transmission behavior which changes as a function of the voltage applied to the modulator or the current through the modulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The sensor element recited in claim 1, wherein the light modulator is arranged in front of the light-sensitive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The sensor element recited in claim 1 wherein the light modulator comprises a liquid-crystal element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The sensor element recited in claim 1, wherein the light-sensitive element comprises a photodiode biased in the backward direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The sensor element recited in claim 1, wherein, for the storage of light flashes or light failure, the light modulator reflects the inncident light if the applied voltage is high, and is connected in parallel with the light-sensitive element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
The sensor element recited in claim 1, wherein the light modulator reflects the incident light if the applied voltage is low, and is connected in parallel with the resistor, thereby providing storage for incident light flashes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The sensor element recited in claim 7, wherein the light-sensitive element and the resistor are fabricated by a thin-film technique.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 111 words
An electronic drawing board in which drawings are generated by a light stylus directed at the board, information generated by the board being transmittable to an information receiving device, for example, a computer, the board comprising a plurality of sensor elements arranged on a common substrate, each of said sensor elements comprising a light-sensitive element connected in series with a resistor, either the light sensitive element or the resistor being shunted by a light modulator which influences the light incident on the light-sensitive element, said modulator having a reflection, absorption and/or transmission behavior which changes as a function of the voltage applied to the modulator or the current through the modulator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 111 words
An electronic drawing board in which drawings are generated by a light stylus directed at the board, information generated by the board being transmittable to an information receiving device, for example, a computer, the board comprising a plurality of sensor elements arranged on a common substrate, each of said sensor elements comprising a light-sensitive element connected in series with a resistor, either the light sensitive element or the resistor being shunted by a light modulator which influences the light incident on the light-sensitive element, said modulator having a reflection, absorption and/or transmission behavior which changes as a function of the voltage applied to the modulator or the current through the modulator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The electronic drawing board recited in claim 8, wherein the light modulator is arranged in front of the light-sensitive element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The electronic drawing board recited in claim 8 wherein the light modulator comprises a liquid-crystal element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The electronic drawing board recited in claim 8, wherein the light-sensitive element comprises a photodiode biased in the backward direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 40 words
The electronic drawing board recited in claim 8, wherein, for the storage of light flashes or light failure, the light modulator reflects the incident light if the applied voltage is high, and is connected in parallel with the light-sensitive element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 37 words
The electronic drawing board recited in claim 8, wherein the light modulator reflects the incident light if the applied voltage is low, and is connected in parallel with the resistor, thereby providing storage for incident light flashes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
The electronic drawing board recited in claim 8, wherein the light-sensitive element and the resistor are fabricated by a thin-film technique.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3631411A Cited
DE2210387A1 Cited
US3824003A Cited
US4062626A Cited
US4432610A Cited
US4545111A Cited
US4655552A Cited
US4679909A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-10 1993-01-09 1993-07-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-10 1997-01-09 1997-07-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-10 2001-01-09 2001-07-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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