title: Smart pixel optical sensor based on positive optical feedback.
abstract: A smart pixel optical sensor based on positive optical feedback is described and demonstrated. The scheme uses the reflectance of an external scene as part of the positive feedback loop and uses the nonlinear characteristics of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser to obtain bistability and hysteresis. As a result, the continuous reflectance variation of the scene is mapped to a digital output with increased noise immunity for each pixel of the array.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Electrical Engineering, Box 352500, Seattle, Washington 98195-2500, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azadeh
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Darling