array

Definition: Arrangement of image sensors. * They come in two main configurations. (1) Mosaic (also matrix, grid or wide) array: rows and rows of photo-sensors or detectors are laid side-by-side in a grid pattern to cover an area. * The rows define the number of pixels per line and the number of rows define the number of lines. * The grid covers the whole field of view so an image can be grabbed all at once. * In some devices, the grid may be moved around under the scanning bed to increase or decrease resolution. (2) Linear array: a single row of sensors or set of three rows e.g. in a flat-bed scanner. * As the sensors do not cover the entire field of view, they are usually set up to sweep over or to scan a flat surface: in this case the resolution on the sweep axis may be determined by the fineness of stepper motor movement -- which is often quoted as higher than that the sensor frequency. * The number of sensors define the total number of pixels available, which is usually less than the number of pixels directly used to capture the image.

Related Terms: megapixel, pixel

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