Detector Arrays with Electric Field Boundary Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detector arrays struggle to correct misalignment issues in image scanners, such as 'off-nadir' scan smearing, which degrades image resolution and modulation transfer function, and current digital corrections can only reduce smear to half a pixel, requiring additional pixel unit cells and increasing noise.
Innovation Solution
A detector array system with field manipulators that create electric fields to adjust detector boundaries, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration of detector positions and sizes to correct misalignment, enabling better than half-pixel smear reduction and improved image resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital correction methods are used to account for column location of image elements, then smear is reduced to half-pixel, but image resolution cannot be improved beyond half-pixel limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic aggregation of detector pixels where the aggregation pattern changes continuously during the scan based on the real-time position of the image element. Instead of static digital correction that assigns fixed integer column locations, the system dynamically determines which detector pixels to aggregate and their weighting factors based on the fractional column position, enabling sub-pixel precision correction that adapts to the exact image element location throughout the scan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the aggregation parameters (which detector pixels are aggregated and their respective weights) based on the measured fractional column position of the image element. By varying these parameters continuously according to the image element's actual location, the system achieves correction precision better than half-pixel, transforming the fixed half-pixel limitation into a variable precision system that adapts to sub-pixel positions.
2Manufacturing precision
If cross scan pixel dimension is reduced to reduce smear, then smear reduction improves, but additional pixel unit cells are required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the correction process into dynamic aggregation groups rather than requiring additional physical pixel unit cells. By segmenting and recombining signals from existing detector pixels based on their fractional column positions, the system achieves sub-pixel smear reduction using the same detector array, avoiding the need for additional pixels and the associated increased device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional pixel unit cells are added to reduce smear, then smear reduction improves, but noise increases due to multiplying constant per-pixel noise sources
Solution Approach 1:
The existing detector pixels serve multiple functions: they detect the image signal and also provide the aggregation pool for dynamic sub-pixel correction. By making the detector array universal for both detection and correction purposes through dynamic aggregation, the system achieves smear reduction without adding more pixels, thereby avoiding the multiplication of noise sources that would occur with additional detector elements.
4Quantity of substance
If per-pixel circuitry is compressed into the same space to accommodate more pixels, then pixel density increases, but alignment tolerances become more stringent increasing manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual high-resolution image by copying and recombining signals from existing detector pixels through dynamic aggregation. Instead of physically packing more pixels with tighter alignment tolerances, the system creates a computational copy of the image at higher effective resolution by intelligently aggregating signals from multiple physical pixels, thereby achieving high pixel density without the associated manufacturing precision challenges.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces misalignment and smear to less than half a pixel, enhancing image resolution and modulation transfer function while minimizing the need for additional pixel unit cells and reducing noise.
Implementation Method 1
detector boundaries are defined by fields and the fields are exerted by field manipulators operatively attached to the detector array between the sub-columns, wherein activating the field manipulators creates electric fields that sort carriers into signal receivers
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.