Image sensor arrays with series redundancy

摘要

In the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed in the specification, a closely spaced sensor array has two or three adjacent rows of sensor elements arranged to be connected so that if there is a defective sensor element in one row, an output signal can be obtained from the corresponding sensor element in an adjacent row to be used in place of a signal from the defective element. In one embodiment this is accomplished by selective operation of a switch and, in other embodiments, the signal output lead from the defective element is severed from that element and connected to the corresponding element in the adjacent row.