Method and System for Distribution of an Exposure Control Signal for Focal Plane Arrays

High-resolution imaging has always been the centerpiece of many industrial, medical, and research applications. However, capturing high-quality images under varying light intensities and high-frequency radiation has always been challenging. There is a definitive need for a technology that can efficiently capture and process images, maximizing the spectral information without compromising the image resolution. Conventional imaging systems fall short in offering dynamic range and an adaptive mechanism, resulting in lower image quality when it comes to integration control and charge conversion. Furthermore, their lack of a localized integration control mechanism  can lead to oversaturation or underexposure of images. Most systems rely on a global triggering mechanism that, despite its utility, doesn't offer the level of precision necessary for optimal image acquisition.

Technology Description

The invention is a large-format imager comprising an array of pixels designed to convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals. Each pixel contains a photodiode that converts light intensity from high-frequency radiation into electrical charge, a reset switch for resetting the photodiode, circuitry for sampling the produced electrical charge, a photoswitch to convert an optical trigger pulse into an electrical signal, an inverter to generate a control signal, and control circuitry to generate local integration control signals. These control signals define the start duration and sampling period of the electrical charge generated by the photodiode. Additionally, the imager employs a trigger mechanism that produces an electrical pulse, triggering the pixels to commence an integration period. It also employs tree-type electrical distribution to propagate the electrical pulse to all pixels. What sets this technology apart is its unique mechanism of controlling the image capturing period (integration period) at a pixel level. Each pixel not only includes a global repeater circuit to propagate an electrical pulse via tree-like electrical distribution, but also a local repeater circuit to provide each local pixel array with the initial pulse edge. This technology significantly enhances the precision and control of the image capture period by governing the start duration and sampling of the electrical charge at each pixel.