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US6476860B1
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Center of mass detection via an active pixel sensor
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1998-07-13
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Granted: 2002-11-05
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Expires: 2018-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An imaging system for identifying the location of the center of mass (“COM”) in an image. In one aspect, an imaging system includes a plurality of photosensitive elements arranged in a matrix. A center of mass circuit coupled to the photosensitive elements includes a resistive network and a normalization circuit including at least one bipolar transistor. The center of mass circuit identifies a center of mass location in the matrix and includes: a row circuit, where the row circuit identifies a center of mass row value in each row of the matrix and identifies a row intensity for each row; a horizontal circuit, where the horizontal circuit identifies a center of mass horizontal value; and a vertical circuit, where the vertical circuit identifies a center of mass vertical value. The horizontal and vertical center of mass values indicate the coordinates of the center of mass location for the image.
Inventors
- 👤 Orly Yadid-Pecht
- 👤 Brad Minch
- 👤 Bedabrata Pain
- 👤 Eric Fossum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/71; H04N25/00; H04N25/40; H04N25/46; H04N25/70; H04N25/703; H04N25/708; H04N25/76; H04N25/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An image sensor comprising: a plurality of photosensitive elements arranged in a matrix of M columns and N rows, where M>1 and N>1; a center of mass circuit coupled to said photosensitive elements, said center of mass circuit including a resistive network and a normalization circuit including at least one switching element, where the center of mass circuit identifies a center of mass location in the matrix and includes: a row circuit, where the row circuit identifies a center of mass row value in each row of the matrix and identifies a row intensity for each row; a horizontal circuit, where the horizontal circuit identifies a center of mass horizontal value relative to the matrix based upon the center of mass row values, such that the center of mass horizontal value indicates the horizontal coordinate of the center of mass location; and a vertical circuit, where the vertical circuit identifies a center of mass vertical value relative to the matrix based upon the row intensities, such that the center of mass vertical value indicates the vertical coordinate of the center of mass location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
An image sensor comprising: a plurality of photosensitive elements arranged in a matrix of M columns and N rows, where M>1 and N>1; a center of mass circuit coupled to said photosensitive elements, said center of mass circuit including a resistive network and a normalization circuit including at least one switching element, where the center of mass circuit identifies a center of mass location in the matrix and includes: a row circuit, where the row circuit identifies a center of mass row value in each row of the matrix and identifies a row intensity for each row; a horizontal circuit, where the horizontal circuit identifies a center of mass horizontal value relative to the matrix based upon the center of mass row values, such that the center of mass horizontal value indicates the horizontal coordinate of the center of mass location; and a vertical circuit, where the vertical circuit identifies a center of mass vertical value relative to the matrix based upon the row intensities, such that the center of mass vertical value indicates the vertical coordinate of the center of mass location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image sensor of claim 1 where the center of mass circuit is a digital circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image sensor of claim 1 where the center of mass circuit is a capacitor scaling:circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The image sensor of claim 1 where the switching element is a bipolar transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image sensor of claim 1 further comprising a second center of mass circuit implemented with capacitor scaling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image sensor of claim 1 where the resistive network includes at least one MOSFET.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5055926A
Cited
US5631697A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-04 | 2006-05-06 | 2006-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-04 | 2010-05-06 | 2010-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-04 | 2014-05-06 | 2014-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |