Optical detection system incorporating photodetector clustering

摘要

An optical detection system can include a set of photodetectors and a set of pixel processing circuits for processing pixel information provided by the set of photodetectors. A set of switches interposed between the set of photodetectors and the set of pixel processing circuits can be selectively activated to place the optical detection system in a first mode of operation that allows for optical detection using a subset of pixel processing circuits. The remaining pixel processing circuits that are not used during the first mode of operation can be placed in a power down condition for conserving power. The set of switches can then be re-activated as needed, to place the optical detection system in a second mode of operation that allows for optical detection using a larger number of pixel processing circuits than used during the first mode of operation.

主权项

1. An optical detection system comprising:
a photodetector array; a set of pixel processing circuits; a set of switches interposed between the photodetector array and the set of pixel processing circuits; and a controller operable to control the set of switches for placing the optical detection system in one of a low resolution mode of operation or a high resolution mode of operation, the low resolution mode of operation characterized by at least a first pixel processing circuit being placed in an active state for detecting an optical input and by a remainder of pixel processing circuits being placed in an inactive state for reducing power consumption, the low resolution mode of operation further characterized by actuation of a first subset of switches in the set of switches to connect a first terminal of each photodetector of the photodetector array to each other and to the first pixel processing circuit, the high resolution mode of operation characterized by at least a subset of the remainder of pixel processing circuits being placed in an active state upon detecting of the optical signal by the first pixel processing circuit and by actuation of a second subset of switches to individually couple the first terminal of each photodetector of a subset of photodetectors of the photodetector array to a respective one of the at least a subset of the remainder of pixel processing circuits.