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Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1989-10-19
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Granted: 1991-03-26
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Expires: 2009-10-19
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Abstract

Abstract The invention concerns a photosensitive device (1) enabling the formation of the image of a document (10) and the conversion of this image into electrical signals with a view to its reproduction or transmission. To this effect, the photosensitive device (1) has a matrix (2) of photosensitive dots (P1 to P9) connected to an addressing device (46, 42) and a reading device (32). According to one characteristic of the invention, the photosensitive device (1) further has a light emitting optical pencil (15) enabling a photosensitive surface (5) of the matrix (2) to be used as a writing surface to fulfil a graphic tablet function.

Inventors

  • 👤 Marc Arques

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 19:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/0412; G06F3/042; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00129; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00352; H04N1/00392; H04N1/04; H04N1/19; H04N1/195; H04N1/00204

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
Photosensitive device comprising at least one light source (7, 25), a photosensitive matrix (2), an addressing device (46, 42), and a reading device (32), the photosensitive matrix comprising a system of conductors in rows (L1 to L3) and a system of conductors in columns (F1 to F3), the photosensitive matrix (2) having a photosensitive surface (5) formed by a plurality of elementary surfaces (Se1 to Se9), each having a photosensitive dot (P1 to P9), each photosensitive dot being connected between a row conductor (L1 to L3) and a column conductor (F1 to F3), the light source (7, 25) producing a light radiation designed to illuminate a document (10, 10a) located above the photosensitive surface (5), characterized in that it further includes, firstly, an optical pencil (15) emitting a light radiation (16) and enabling the illumination of at least one elementary surface (Se1 to Se9), and in that it includes, secondly, means (Da, Db, GL1 to GL3, GF1 to GF3, 45, 33) to distinguish the row conductor (L1 to L3) and the column conductor (F1 to F3) between which there is connected the photosensitive dot (P1 to P9) located in the elementary surface (Se1 to Se9) illuminated by the optical pencil (15).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 201 words
Photosensitive device comprising at least one light source (7, 25), a photosensitive matrix (2), an addressing device (46, 42), and a reading device (32), the photosensitive matrix comprising a system of conductors in rows (L1 to L3) and a system of conductors in columns (F1 to F3), the photosensitive matrix (2) having a photosensitive surface (5) formed by a plurality of elementary surfaces (Se1 to Se9), each having a photosensitive dot (P1 to P9), each photosensitive dot being connected between a row conductor (L1 to L3) and a column conductor (F1 to F3), the light source (7, 25) producing a light radiation designed to illuminate a document (10, 10a) located above the photosensitive surface (5), characterized in that it further includes, firstly, an optical pencil (15) emitting a light radiation (16) and enabling the illumination of at least one elementary surface (Se1 to Se9), and in that it includes, secondly, means (Da, Db, GL1 to GL3, GF1 to GF3, 45, 33) to distinguish the row conductor (L1 to L3) and the column conductor (F1 to F3) between which there is connected the photosensitive dot (P1 to P9) located in the elementary surface (Se1 to Se9) illuminated by the optical pencil (15).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 1, characterized in that each photosensitive dot (P1 to P9) has two series mounted elements (Da, Db), a first element (Da) being formed by a commutation means and a second element (Db) being photosensitive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first element (Da) forming the commutation means is a diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 3, characterized in that the diode (Da) forming the commutation means is a photodiode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second element (Db) is formed by a photosensitive diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second element (Db) is a photoresistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means (45, IV1 to IV3) to forward bias the diode (Da) forming the commutation element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that each point (P1 to P9) has two diodes (Da, Db) mounted in series with opposite directions of conduction, at least one of the two photodiodes being photosensitive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 55 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means (45, IV1 to IV3) to bias the two diodes (Da, Db) of each photosensitive dot (P1 to P9) so that a first diode (Da) is forward biased and the second diode (Db) is reverse biased, at least the second diode (Db) being photosensitive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 38 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the photosensitive dots (P1 to P9) have an active surface (Sa1 to Sa9) which is much smaller than an elementary surface (Se1 to Se9).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 10, characterized in that the active surfaces (Sa1 to Sa9) are equal to or smaller than substantially 90% of an elementary surface (Se1 to Se9).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the light source (7) is located beneath the photosensitive matrix (2), opposite the document (10).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 12, characterized in that a screen (12) opaque to light is interposed between the light source (7) and the photosensitive dots (P1 to P9).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 42 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that it further comprises a display device (7, 20) placed beneath the photosensitive matrix (2) so as to project an image that is visible through the photosensitive matrix (2).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 14, characterized in that the display device (20) is of the liquid crystal type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 15, characterized in that the liquid crystal display device (20) is placed between the photosensitive matrix (2) and the light source (7).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 14, characterized in that the display device (7) further constitutes a light source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 26 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the light source (25) is located above the photosensitive surface (5).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 72 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 8, characterized in that the photosensitive matrix (2) comprises a substrate (3) on which the column conductors (F1 to F3) are made, and in that the two diodes (Da, Db) of a photosensitive dot (P1 to P9) are formed with a stack (60) of five superimposed semiconducting layers (62, 63, 64, 65, 66), the third layer (64) or middle layer being common to both diodes (Da, Db).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 86 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the above claims 1-4, characterized in that the photosensitive matrix (2) has a substrate (3) bearing a stack (60) of semiconducting layers arranged between column conductors (F1 to F3) and row conductors (L1 to L3), the stack (60) of semiconducting layers being etched so as to form strips (60a) each located beneath each row conductor (L1 to L3) and obtained by a simultaneous etching of the row conductors (L1 to L3) and of the stack (60) of semiconducting layers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 35 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 20, characterized in that the active surface (Sa1) of a photosensitive dot (P1 to P9) is equal to or smaller than substantially 50% of an elementary surface (Se1 to Se9).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 29 words
Photosensitive device according to claim 15, characterized in that the photosensitive matrix (2) has a transparent substrate (4) which further constitutes a wall (21) of the display device (20).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 62 words
Photosensitive device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the photosensitive matrix (2) has a substrate (3) bearing a stack (60) of semiconducting layers placed between column conductors (F1 to F3) and row conductors (L1 to L3), and wherein an insulating and transparent layer (71) is deposited opposite the substrate to form a mechanical protection screen (9).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4451895A Cited
US4475239A Cited
US4707109A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-03-25 1994-09-24 1995-03-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-03-25 1998-09-24 1999-03-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-03-25 2002-09-24 2003-03-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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