It's easy when the package is transparent!  In this case, a linear image sensor.  After mounting it on the PCB, I put it under the microscope to check the solder joints, and was pleasantly surprised to see the pixels themselves.  That's them on the right.  The end one is a different size/shape than the others.

You can also make out the text "TAOS C 2000".  Copyright markings on the chip, nice.  I don't see an open-source license on there, though :-(

I also built the matching receiver PCB, and assembled the CS lens mount on the sensor board.  I just need to connect them with an ethernet cable and - nothing - I didn't write a driver for this thing yet.

So, I have to get into a software mindset and crank out some code.  I'm just not feeling it tonight.  But the hardware is done, so yay!