Optical sensor row with multiple photo-elements on same substrate - supplies each two-pole photo-element with nonlinear current-voltage characteristic and converts photo-current dynamic range

• Main Authors: MEIXNER, HANS. DR., 8013 HAAR, DE, KLEINSCHMIDT, PETER., 8000 MUENCHEN, DE, MADER, GERHARD. DR., 8025 UNTERHACHING, DE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; German
• Published: 02.04.1992
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

The optical sensor row consists of a separated amorphous photoelectric material with a number of photoelements on a substrate (4). Each photoelement (1) is connected to a passive two-pole element (2) of amorphous material with a non-linear current-voltage characteristic on the same substrate. The two-pole element converts the photocurrent of its associated photoelement into a voltage signal with a lower dynamic range than the photocurrent. The potential drop across the two-pole element froms the signal input of a voltage follower. ADVANTAGE - Achieves voltage representation of the entire 3-decade photocurrent range over voltage range between 0 volts and operating voltage.