US5949064A — Opsistor image processor with a reference detecto…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

An image processing system for capturing and compressing a series of images from an image source, the system comprising: an image array having at least one pixel element, each pixel element having: a capture photo detector having an anode and a cathode, the capture detector in exposure to the image source; a reference photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the anode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the cathode of the capture photo detector, and cathode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the anode of the capture detector; a light emitter array having at least one light emitter corresponding to each pixel element, wherein the light emitter emits light on the reference detector; and a processing circuit electrically coupled to each pixel element and each light emitter, the processing circuit projecting a reference image from the light emitter on the reference detector and comparing the reference image with the image sensed by the capture detector.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 160 words

An image processing system for capturing and compressing a series of images from an image source, the system comprising: an image array having at least one pixel element, each pixel element having: a capture photo detector having an anode and a cathode, the capture detector in exposure to the image source; a reference photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the anode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the cathode of the capture photo detector, and cathode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the anode of the capture detector; a light emitter array having at least one light emitter corresponding to each pixel element, wherein the light emitter emits light on the reference detector; and a processing circuit electrically coupled to each pixel element and each light emitter, the processing circuit projecting a reference image from the light emitter on the reference detector and comparing the reference image with the image sensed by the capture detector.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The image processing system of claim 1 wherein the processing circuit includes a difference circuit for each pixel element, the difference circuit producing a difference signal indicative of the difference between the reference image projected on the reference detector and the image sensed by the capture detector.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 138 words

The image processing system of claim 2 wherein the difference circuit further comprises: a switch for each pixel element coupled to the cathode of the capture detector and the anode of the reference detector; an amplifier for each pixel element with a gate coupled to the switch, a source coupled to the light emitter, and a drain coupled to a voltage source; a sample and hold capacitor coupled to the cathode of the capture detector and the anode of the reference detector, the capacitor holding a value of a previous image to serve as the reference image; and an error amplifier having an input coupled to a reference source and an input coupled to the cathode of the capture detector and the anode of the reference detector, and which outputs the difference signal when the switch is closed.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The image processing system of claim 2 further comprising an analog to digital converter coupled to the processing circuit, producing a digital value of the difference signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The image processing system of claim 4 wherein the analog to digital converter uses the difference signal to determine a first approximation of the digital value.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

The image processing system of claim 4 further comprising: a processor coupled to the analog to digital converter, the processing circuit forming digital representations of the series of images; and a storage device coupled to the processing circuit which stores a digital representation of the series of images.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The image processing system of claim 1 wherein the anode of the capture detector and the cathode of the reference detector are coupled to a common voltage reference.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 105 words

The image processing system of claim 2 wherein each pixel element is arranged in a row and a column in the array, the processing circuit further comprising: a comparator coupled to the difference circuit of each pixel; a change of state column line coupled to the comparator of each pixel element in a column; a change of state row line coupled to the comparator of each pixel element in a row; and wherein the comparator sets the state column line and state row line coupled to the pixel element low if the magnitude of the difference signal for the pixel element exceeds a validation level.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

The image processing system of claim 8 wherein the processing circuit further comprises: a summing circuit coupled to the change of state row lines and the change of state column lines; and wherein the processing circuit is coupled to the summing circuit to determine particular rows of pixel elements and columns of pixel elements where the image sensed by the capture detector has changed from the reference image.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

The image processing system of claim 8 wherein the processing circuit further comprises: a row select circuit coupled to the change of state row lines; a column select circuit coupled to the change of state column lines; and wherein the processing circuit reads the difference signal of a pixel element by the row select circuit and the column select circuit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the light emitters are light emitting diodes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising an infra-red waveband filter between the capture detector and the image area.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising an ultra-violet waveband filter between the capture detector and the image area.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 182 words

The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising: a filter passing light at a first waveband between the capture detector and the image area; and wherein each pixel element further comprises: a second capture photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the second capture detector in exposure to the image source; a second reference photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the anode of the second reference detector being electrically coupled to the cathode of the second capture detector, and the cathode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the anode of the second capture detector; and a second filter for light at a second waveband between the second capture detector and the image area; a third capture photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the third capture detector in exposure to the image source; a third reference photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the anode of the third reference detector being electrically coupled to the cathode of the third capture detector, and cathode of the third reference detector being electrically coupled to the anode of the third capture detector.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

The image processing system of claim 14 wherein the first waveband is the red spectrum of visible light; the second waveband is the green spectrum of visible light; and the third waveband is the blue spectrum of visible light.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The image processing system of claim 1 wherein the image array is fabricated on a monolithic substrate having a front and rear surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 112 words

The image processing system of claim 16 wherein the monolithic substrate is N-type silicon; wherein the anode of the capture detector is a P+ doped region on the front surface of the substrate; and wherein the cathode of the capture detector is a N+ doped region on the rear surface of the substrate opposite the P+ doped region of the capture detector; and wherein the a node of the reference detector is a P+ doped region on the rear surface of the substrate; and wherein the cathode of the reference detector is a N+ doped region on the front surface of the substrate opposite the P+ doped region of the reference detector.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 75 words

The image processing system of claim 17 further comprising: a front conductor layer in contact with the anode of the capture detector; a front metal layer in contact with the N+ doped region of the capture detector and the front conductor layer; a rear conductor layer in contact with the anode of the reference detector; a rear metal layer in contact with the N+ doped region of the reference detector and the rear conductor layer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The image processing system of claim 18 wherein the rear and front conductor layers are metal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The image processing system of claim 18 wherein the rear and front conductor layers are transparent.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The image processing system of claim 20 wherein the rear and front conductor layers are indium tin oxide.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 67 words

The image processing system of claim 17 further comprising: a support substrate having a front surface; a series of bumps in contact between the front surface of the support substrate and the rear surface of the monolithic substrate providing optical isolation between the adjacent reference detectors of each pixel elements; and wherein the light emitter array is fabricated on the front surface of the support substrate surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The image processing system of claim 22 wherein the processing circuit is fabricated on the support substrate.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The image processing system of claim 23 wherein the bumps are conductors providing electrical connection between the processing circuit and the cathode of the capture detector.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 12 words

The image processing system of claim 23 wherein the bumps are indium.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 72 words

The image processing system of claim 1 further comprising: a middle substrate; a front substrate having a front surface facing the image area and a rear surface facing the middle substrate wherein the capture detector is fabricated on the front substrate; and a rear substrate having a front surface facing the middle substrate and a rear surface facing the light emitter array, wherein the reference detector is fabricated on the rear substrate.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The image processing system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuit is fabricated in the middle substrate.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 117 words

The image processing system of claim 26 wherein the front and rear substrates are N-type silicon, wherein the anode of the capture detector is a P+ doped region formed on the front surface of the front substrate; wherein the cathode of the capture detector is an N+ doped region on the rear surface of the front substrate opposite the P+ doped region of the capture detector; wherein the anode of the reference detector is a P+ doped region formed on the rear surface of the rear substrate; and wherein the anode of the reference detector is a N+ doped region on the front surface of the rear substrate opposite the P+ doped region of the reference detector.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 48 words

The image processing system of claim 28 further comprising: a front conductor layer in contact with the P+ doped region of the capture detector of each pixel element; and a rear conductor layer in contact with the P+ doped region of the reference detector of each pixel element.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 99 words

The image processing system of claim 29 further comprising: a series of front bumps located between the rear surface of the front substrate and the middle substrate; a series of rear bumps located between the front surface of the rear substrate and the middle substrate; a series of conductive vias running through the middle substrate electrically coupling each rear bump with a front bump; and wherein a front bump is in electrical contact with the N+ doped region of the capture detector and a rear bump is in electrical contact with the P+ doped region of the reference detector.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The image processing system of claim 30 wherein the bumps are indium and attached to the middle substrate and the front and rear substrates by flip chip bonding.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 54 words

The image processing system of claim 30 further comprising: an emitter substrate having the emitter array fabricated thereon; and an aperture grid located between the emitter substrate and the rear surface of the rear substrate, wherein the aperture grid provides optical isolation between adjacent light emitters and the reference detector of each pixel element.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 98 words

A method of capturing and compressing an image from an image source using an array of optical pixel elements producing a capture voltage level indicative of a captured image, the method comprising the steps of: comparing the capture voltage signal of each pixel element with a reference voltage signal from the light level of a reference image; determining a difference value between the capture voltage signal and the reference voltage signal; determining the pixel elements where no change has occurred between the reference image and the captured image; and storing the difference values associated with the pixel elements.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 98 words

A method of capturing and compressing an image from an image source using an array of optical pixel elements producing a capture voltage level indicative of a captured image, the method comprising the steps of: comparing the capture voltage signal of each pixel element with a reference voltage signal from the light level of a reference image; determining a difference value between the capture voltage signal and the reference voltage signal; determining the pixel elements where no change has occurred between the reference image and the captured image; and storing the difference values associated with the pixel elements.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method of claim 33 wherein each pixel element further comprises: a capture photo detector having an anode and a cathode, the capture detector in exposure to the image source; a reference photo detector having an anode, a cathode, the anode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the cathode of the capture optical detector, and cathode of the reference detector being electrically coupled to the anode of the capture detector.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of storing the captured image for use as a reference image.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 35 wherein a light emitter array having at least one light emitter corresponding to each pixel element is used to project the reference image.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of: converting the difference value into a digital value; and storing the digital values as a representation of the captured images.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 103 words

The method of claim 37 wherein the step of determining the pixel elements where no change has occurred between the reference image and the captured image further comprises: coupling each pixel to a change of state row line and a change of state column line; setting the change of state row line and change state column line low if any pixel on the row line or column line senses a change between the capture image and the reference image; and summing the difference values from the pixels on the change of state row lines or the change of state column lines set low.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of: selecting the sum of difference values from a change of state row line or the change of state column line; determining an average difference value the sum of difference values from the change of state row lines or the change of state column lines.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 39 wherein the step of converting the difference value includes using the average difference value as a first approximation value to determine the digital value.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of coupling the anode of the capture detector and the cathode of the reference detector to a common voltage reference.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-06	2003-03-08	2003-09-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-06	2007-03-08	2007-09-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-06	2011-03-08	2011-09-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Opsistor image processor with a reference detector and a reference image

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