Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T18:54:28.178Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Hyperacuity Image Sensors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

David K. Biegelsen
Affiliation:
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Warren B. Jackson
Affiliation:
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
René Lujan
Affiliation:
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
David Jared
Affiliation:
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Richard L. Weisfield
Affiliation:
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Get access

Abstract

The human visual system perceives much smaller spatial steps in edges between high contrast regions than equivalents fine, periodic features. This characteristic is known as hyperacuity. We have designed, simulated, fabricated and characterized amorphous silicon sensors which provide hyperacuity information. The individual pixels are position sensitive detectors, the outputs of which provide the x and y first moments of the cell illumination pattern as well as the average gray level. In the simplest case the top electrode of a standard p-i-n diode sensor is replaced by four edge strip electrodes. Both quadrilateral cells (having all four lateral electrodes on the same side of the p-i-n diode) and duolateral cells (having x-electrodes on top and y-electrodes on bottom) have been tested. Results of probing the cells with rastered spots show that both types provide usable linearity and sensitivity. The duolateral structure provides greater orthogonality of the x and y information. One μm spatial resolution can be achieved with devices compatible with standard amorphous silicon sensor processing.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Curry, D. N., J. Electronic Imaging 2, (1993).Google Scholar
2. Westheimer, G., “Visual hyperacuity”, in Progress in Sensor Physiology I (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1981).Google Scholar
3. Woltring, H. J., IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-22, 581 (1975).Google Scholar
4. Schottky, W., Phys. Zeitschrift 31, 913 (1930).Google Scholar
5. Wallmark, J. T., Proc. IRE 45, 474 (1957).Google Scholar
6. Lucovsky, G., J. Applied Physics 31, 1088 (1960).Google Scholar
7. Arimoto, S., Yamamoto, H., Ohno, H. and Hasegawa, H., J. Applied Physics 57, 4778 (1985).Google Scholar
8. Yamaguchi, M., Murakami, S., Todo, S., and Tawada, Y., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 149, 631 (1989).Google Scholar
9. Fortunato, E., Vieira, M., Ferreira, L., Carvalho, C. N., Lavareda, G. and Martins, R., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 297, 981 (1993).Google Scholar
10. Connors, W. P., IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-18, 591 (1975).Google Scholar