The sensor
consists of 128 photodiodes arranged in a linear array. Light energy impinging
on a photodiode
generates
photocurrent, which is integrated by the active integration circuitry associated
with that pixel. During
the integration
period, a sampling capacitor connects to the output of the integrator through an
analog switch.
The amount of
charge accumulated at each pixel is directly proportional to the light intensity
and the integration
time. The
integration time is the interval between two consecutive output
periods.
The output and
reset of the integrators is controlled by a 128-bit shift register and reset
logic. An output cycle
is initiated by
clocking in a logic 1 on SI for one positive going clock edge (see Figures 1 and
2). As the SI pulse
is clocked
through the 128-bit shift register, the charge on the sampling capacitor of each
pixel is sequentially
connected to a
charge-coupled output amplifier that generates a voltage output AO. When the bit
position goes
low the pixel
integrator is reset. On the 129th clock rising edge, the SI pulse is clocked out
of the shift register
and the output
assumes a high impedance state. Note that this 129th clock pulse is required to
terminate the
output of the
128th pixel and return the internal logic to a known state. A subsequent SI
pulse can be presented
on the 130th
clock pulse, thereby initiating another pixel output cycle.
The voltage
developed at analog output (AO) is given by: