1. A pixel comprising:
a sample transistor coupled to a light detecting stage, the sample transistor comprising an inner junction region coupled to a storage node, and a gate disposed around at least three sides of the inner junction region that operates as a charge barrier to protect the inner junction region from charges collected in response to light and to reduce a parasitic light sensitivity (PLS) of the pixel; and
a memory capacitor coupled to the storage node.
2. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the sample transistor further comprises an outer junction region disposed around the inner junction region.
3. The pixel of claim 2, wherein the charge barrier protects the inner junction region from charges generated in the outer junction region.
4. The pixel of claim of claim 3, wherein the outer junction region collects light generated close to the inner junction region.
5. The pixel of claim 1, further comprising a light shield that shields the inner junction region from light received by the pixel in operation.
6. The pixel of claim 5, wherein the light shield substantially does not shield the outer junction region from light received by the pixel in operation.
7. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the charge barrier forms an open ring around the inner junction region.
8. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the charge barrier forms a closed ring around the inner junction region.
9. The pixel of claim 1, wherein the pixel is a six transistor (6T) pixel.
10. The pixel of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional sample transistors having a gate disposed around an inner junction region that operates as a charge barrier.
11. A synchronous shutter image sensor comprising a plurality of the pixels of claim 1.
12. A method comprising generating an active-pixel layout including a sample transistor having an inner junction region, an outer junction region disposed around the inner junction region, and a gate charge barrier disposed around at least three sides of the inner junction region that operates as a charge barrier to protect the inner junction region from charges generated in the outer junction region and to reduce a parasitic light sensitivity (PLS).
13. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the active-pixel layout further comprises generating the pixel layout to have a storage node coupled to the inner junction region.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the active-pixel layout comprises laying out the gate to form an open ring around the inner junction region.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the active-pixel layout comprises laying out the gate to form a closed ring around the inner junction region.
16. An apparatus comprising an active-pixel sensor including a sample transistor having an inner junction region, an outer junction region disposed in a closed ring around the inner junction region, and means for reducing a parasitic light sensitivity (PLS) of the pixel by protecting the inner junction region from charges generated by light in the outer junction region.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for reducing the PLS comprises a charge barrier disposed around at least three sides of the storage node.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the charge barrier operates as a gate of the sample transistor in operation of the active-pixel sensor.
19. The pixel of claim 17, wherein the charge barrier forms a closed ring around the inner junction region.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An aircraft, comprising:
a vibrating structure creating a vibrating force; and
a vibration system, having:
an adjustable vibration absorber that creates a reacting force in response to the vibrating force;
a driver rigidly attached to the vibrating structure and operably associated with the vibration absorber;
a sensor system, having:
a first sensor associated with the vibration absorber;
a second sensor associate with the vibrating structure; and
a control unit in data communication with both the sensor system and the driver, the control unit being configured to analyze a first signal from the first sensor and a second signal from the second sensor and configured to command the driver to adjust the vibration absorber;
wherein the vibration system continuously analyzes the vibrating force and the reacting force for determining whether adjustment of the vibration absorber is required.
2. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising:
a main mass cantilevered at a spaced relationship relative to the vibrating structure.
3. The aircraft of claim 2, further comprising:
a flexible beam for cantilevering the main mass relative to the vibrating structure.
4. The aircraft of claim 3, wherein the flexible beam is moveable relative to the vibrating structure.
5. The aircraft of claim 2, further comprising:
an auxiliary mass cantilevered at a spaced relationship relative to the vibrating structure;
wherein the spaced relationship of the auxiliary mass relative to the vibrating structure is adjusted via the driver.
6. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising:
a linkage rigidly attached to the auxiliary mass and operably associated with the driver;
wherein the driver selectively adjusts the spaced relationship of the auxiliary mass relative to the vibrating structure via the linkage.
7. The aircraft of claim 1, the control unit comprising:
an algorithm, having:
an analog multiplier; and
a dynamic detector;
wherein the first signal and the second signal are multiplied together in the analog multiplier, then passed through the dynamic detector for determining the relative phase angle between the first signal and the second signal.
8. The aircraft of claim 7, wherein the algorithm determines whether the relative phase angle is equal to 90 degrees, and if so, then the vibration absorber is not adjusted, else, the control unit commands the driver to adjust the vibration absorber until the relative phase angle is equal to 90 degrees.
9. The aircraft of claim 1, the control unit comprising:
an algorithm, having:
a linear envelope detector;
a differentiator; and
a sign comparator;
wherein the first signal and the second signal pass through the linear detector for determining a first amplitude of the first signal and a second amplitude of the second signal, then a slope of a ratio of the first amplitude and the second amplitude is compared with the sign comparator.
10. The aircraft of claim 9, wherein if the slope is not equal to zero, then the vibration absorber is adjusted accordingly.
11. The aircraft of claim 1, the control unit comprising:
an algorithm, having:
a zero crossing detector;
an increment half-period clock timercounter;
an increment one-period clock timercounter;
a slope detector;
wherein the first signal passes through the zero crossing detector for determining whether the first signal has a zero crossing;
wherein if the zero crossing is found, the signal passes through the slope detector, and if a slope of the signal from the slope detector is positive, the one-period clock timercounter is reset;
wherein if the zero crossing is found, the half-period clock timercounter is reset; and
wherein if the zero crossing is not found, a frequency is determined from the half-period clock timercounter.
12. A vibration system for a vibrating structure, comprising:
an adjustable vibration absorber, having:
a first spring element coupled to the vibrating structure and a main absorber mass;
a second spring element spaced from and extending relatively parallel to the first spring element, the second spring element being coupled to the vibrating structure and the main absorber mass; and
a driver disposed between the first spring element and the second spring element for adjusting the spaced relationship therebetween;
a first sensor operably associated with the vibration absorber main mass;
a second sensor operably associate with the vibrating structure; and
a control unit for controlling movement of the driver and a control unit in data communication with both the sensor system and the driver, the control unit being configured to analyze a first signal from the first sensor and a second signal from the second sensor and configured to command the driver to adjust the vibration absorber;
wherein the vibration system continuously analyzes a vibrating force from the vibrating structure and a reacting force from the absorber for determining whether adjustment of the vibration absorber is required; and
wherein if adjustment of vibration absorber is required, the control unit commands the driver to adjust the spaced relationship between the first and second spring elements.
13. The vibration system of claim 12, the control unit comprising:
an algorithm, having:
an analog multiplier; and
a dynamic detector;
wherein the first signal and the second signal are multiplied together within the analog multiplier, then passed through the dynamic detector for determining the relative phase angle between the first signal and the second signal; and
wherein the algorithm determines whether the relative phase angle is equal to 90 degrees, and if so, then the vibration absorber is not adjusted, else, the control unit commands the driver to adjust the vibration absorber.
14. The vibration system of claim 12, the control unit comprising:
an algorithm, having:
a linear envelope detector;
a differentiator; and
a sign comparator;
wherein the first signal and the second signal pass through the linear detector for determining a first amplitude of the first signal and a second amplitude of the second signal, then a slope of a ratio of the first amplitude and the second amplitude is compared with the sign comparator; and
wherein if the slope is not equal to zero, then the vibration absorber is adjusted accordingly.
15. A method to adjustably create a reacting force in response to a vibrating force exerted on an absorber spring and mass system by a vibrating structure, the method comprising:
attaching a driver to the vibrating structure, the driver being operably associated with an adjustable absorber configured to create the reacting force;
sensing the reacting force with a first sensor and the vibrating force with a second sensor;
relaying a first signal from the first sensor and a second signal from the second sensor to a control unit;
determining whether adjustment of the absorber is required by analyzing the first signal and the second signal with a control algorithm associated with the control unit; and
adjusting the vibration absorber accordingly.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein:
adjusting the vibration absorber is achieved by moving a cantilevered mass relative to the vibrating structure; and
suspending the mass relative to the vibrating structure via a linkage operably associated with the driver.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
telescopically extending the linkage relative to the vibrating structure.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein analyzing the first signal and the second signal is achieved with the steps comprising:
multiplying the first signal and the second signal through an analog multiplier;
determining the relative phase angle between the first signal and the second signal dynamic detector; and
adjusting the vibration absorber if the relative phase angle is equal to 90 degrees.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein analyzing the first signal and the second signal is achieved with the steps comprising:
passing the first signal and the second signal through a linear detector;
determining a first amplitude of the first signal and a second amplitude of the second signal;
determining a slope of a ratio of the first amplitude and the second amplitude with a sign comparator; and
adjusting the vibration absorber if the slope is not equal to zero.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein analyzing the first signal and the second signal is achieved with the steps comprising:
passing the first signal through a zero crossing detector for determining whether the first signal has a zero crossing;
determining if the zero crossing is found, and if so, passing the first signal through a slope detector and resetting the a half-period clock timercounter;
determining if a slope of the first signal if positive, and if so, resetting a one-period clock timercounter;
wherein if the zero crossing is not found, a frequency is determined from the half-period clock timercounter.