Active-Pixel Sensors With 'Winner-Take-All' Mode

摘要

Circuits to generate the intensityudreading and the coordinates of theudbrightest pixel in each image would beudadded to imaging photodetector arraysudof the active-pixel-sensor (APS) type,udaccording to a proposal. For a givenudAPS, the additional circuitry for locatingudthe brightest pixel would be installedudat the periphery of the basicudAPS circuit. The additional circuitryudwould thus not degrade the originaludoptical properties or interfere with theudoriginal electronic functions of theudAPS. The APS could be operated in itsudnormal image-readout mode or, optionally,udit could be operated with theudadditional circuitry in the brightest-pixeludmode. Potential applicationsudcould include star tracking or fastudtracking of a moving laser-beam spot inudlaser communication system.