GB2146504A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

A visual image recording device comprises a solid state dynamic shift register 5 having the solid state elements thereof exposed so that light may be focussed thereon, and an adjustable lens 13 for focussing light on the said exposed elements. The recording device may be contained in a cuboid of some 15 mm side. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Image recording device The present invention relates to a visual image recording device.

Photosensitive solid state semi-conductors have been in use for several years for sensing light and it is known that solid state semi-conductors generally are light sensitive.

The present invention is based on the realisation of the feasibility of using a solid state dynamic shift register to record a visual image.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a visual image recording device comprising a solid state dynamic shift register having the solid state elements thereof exposed so that light may be focuused thereon, and means for focussing light on the said exposed elements.

Hereinafter for convenience, the device of the present invention will be referred to as a camera.

An advantage of using a dynamic shift register is that it enables the camera to be made up to occupy very small dimensions and this opens up the possibility of using the camera in circumstances, where due to lack of space, it has not peviously been feasible or possible to use a camera. For instance, the camera can be housed in a casing of only some 15 mm cube. The shift register also provides simple connections to external circuitry. Typically six leads would be used i.e. for supply, clock, read and output lines. A preferred chip for the register is 1024 bit register e.g. an AM 2808 produced by Advanced Micro Devices. The HC package is presently preferred. The AM 2808 has re-circulate logic.

The focussing means is preferably an optical lens.

Provision is preferably made to vary the lens position so that the focal distance of the camera can be varied.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic sectional elevation of a image recording device of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a surface of a dynamic shift register package showing the array of solid state light sensitive, elements.

Referring now to the drawings, the device comprises a plastics moulded casing 1 of cuboid form of some 15 mm each side. The casing is formed with a central bore 3 in which is slid an HC package 5 of a solid state dynamic shift register 7 (Figure 2).

The casing is formed with a further bore 9 is what appears in Figure 1 as the bottom wall 11 thereof, and the bore is screw threaded to receive the barrel of an optical lens 13; the barrel being formed with an external screw thread at one end thereof to screw into bore 9. The package 5 exposes the array 15 (see Figure 2) of the active semi-conductor elements of the register so that light gathered by the lens can be focussed on the array. Thus, if the lens is viewing an object in focus, the lens projects an image of the object onto the array.

By this means, the image data are "written" into the register. The data may then be read out in the ordinary way. Although in the process of reading out the register, a bit in one element of the array will be stepped through the following elements thereof to the output, the read-out time is small in relation to the exposure time of the elements so that there is no obliteration of data. Thus, in operation of the camera, a time is allowed for the array to respond to the image information, this being the exposure time, and then a read out is effected; the procedure being repeated for as long as image information is required. Resolution is adequate to permit ready identification of the image, which, for instance, may be displayed on a TV monitor.

As shown in Figure 2, the package contains terminals 17 for leads 19 for the array and external connections may be made in any suitable way.

it is considered that the present invention will find useful application in location and movement control work, for instance, in directing "limbs" of a robot especially of industrial robots or the course thereof if mobile and for general recognition work e.g. it may be used to recognise people or for reading a text.

1. Avisual image recording device comprising a solid state dynamic shift register having the solid state elements thereof exposed so that light may be focussed thereon, and means for focussing light on the said exposed elements.

2. A recording device according to Claim 1, wherein the register is a 1024 bit register chip.

3. A recording device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the register is packaged as an HC package.

4. A recording device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the register has a recirculate logic.

5. A recording device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the focussing means is an optical lens.

6. A recording device according to Claim 5, wherein the optical lens is arranged so that the focal distance of the device can be varied.

7. A recording device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Image recording device The present invention relates to a visual image recording device. Photosensitive solid state semi-conductors have been in use for several years for sensing light and it is known that solid state semi-conductors generally are light sensitive. The present invention is based on the realisation of the feasibility of using a solid state dynamic shift register to record a visual image. Accordingly, the present invention provides a visual image recording device comprising a solid state dynamic shift register having the solid state elements thereof exposed so that light may be focuused thereon, and means for focussing light on the said exposed elements. Hereinafter for convenience, the device of the present invention will be referred to as a camera. An advantage of using a dynamic shift register is that it enables the camera to be made up to occupy very small dimensions and this opens up the possibility of using the camera in circumstances, where due to lack of space, it has not peviously been feasible or possible to use a camera. For instance, the camera can be housed in a casing of only some 15 mm cube. The shift register also provides simple connections to external circuitry. Typically six leads would be used i.e. for supply, clock, read and output lines. A preferred chip for the register is 1024 bit register e.g. an AM 2808 produced by Advanced Micro Devices. The HC package is presently preferred. The AM 2808 has re-circulate logic. The focussing means is preferably an optical lens. Provision is preferably made to vary the lens position so that the focal distance of the camera can be varied. The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic sectional elevation of a image recording device of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a surface of a dynamic shift register package showing the array of solid state light sensitive, elements. Referring now to the drawings, the device comprises a plastics moulded casing 1 of cuboid form of some 15 mm each side. The casing is formed with a central bore 3 in which is slid an HC package 5 of a solid state dynamic shift register 7 (Figure 2). The casing is formed with a further bore 9 is what appears in Figure 1 as the bottom wall 11 thereof, and the bore is screw threaded to receive the barrel of an optical lens 13; the barrel being formed with an external screw thread at one end thereof to screw into bore 9. The package 5 exposes the array 15 (see Figure 2) of the active semi-conductor elements of the register so that light gathered by the lens can be focussed on the array. Thus, if the lens is viewing an object in focus, the lens projects an image of the object onto the array. By this means, the image data are "written" into the register. The data may then be read out in the ordinary way. Although in the process of reading out the register, a bit in one element of the array will be stepped through the following elements thereof to the output, the read-out time is small in relation to the exposure time of the elements so that there is no obliteration of data. Thus, in operation of the camera, a time is allowed for the array to respond to the image information, this being the exposure time, and then a read out is effected; the procedure being repeated for as long as image information is required. Resolution is adequate to permit ready identification of the image, which, for instance, may be displayed on a TV monitor. As shown in Figure 2, the package contains terminals 17 for leads 19 for the array and external connections may be made in any suitable way. it is considered that the present invention will find useful application in location and movement control work, for instance, in directing "limbs" of a robot especially of industrial robots or the course thereof if mobile and for general recognition work e.g. it may be used to recognise people or for reading a text. CLAIMS

1. Avisual image recording device comprising a solid state dynamic shift register having the solid state elements thereof exposed so that light may be focussed thereon, and means for focussing light on the said exposed elements.

2. A recording device according to Claim 1, wherein the register is a 1024 bit register chip.

3. A recording device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the register is packaged as an HC package.

4. A recording device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the register has a recirculate logic.

5. A recording device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the focussing means is an optical lens.

6. A recording device according to Claim 5, wherein the optical lens is arranged so that the focal distance of the device can be varied.

7. A recording device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.