Jan T. Bosiers

Modulated electron-multiplied fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope: All-solid-state camera for fluorescence lifetime imaging

Abstract. We have built an all-solid-state camera that is directly modulated at the pixel level for frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) measurements. This novel camera eliminates the need for an image intensifier through the use of an application-specific charge coupled device design in a frequency-domain FLIM system. The first stage of evaluation for the camera has been carried out. Camera characteristics such as noise distribution, dark current influence, camera gain, sampling density, sensitivity, linearity of photometric response, and optical transfer function have been studied through experiments. We are able to do lifetime measurement using our modulated, electron-multiplied fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope (MEM-FLIM) camera for various objects, e.g., fluorescein solution, fixed green fluorescent protein (GFP) cells, and GFP-actin stained live cells. A detailed comparison of a conventional microchannel plate (MCP)-based FLIM system and the MEM-FLIM system is presented. The MEM-FLIM camera shows higher resolution and a better image quality. The MEM-FLIM camera provides a new opportunity for performing frequency-domain FLIM.

A 2/3-in 1187(H)*581(V) S-VHS-compatible frame-transfer CCD for ESP and movie mode

The authors present a high-resolution frame-transfer charge-coupled-device (CCD) suitable for S-VHS camcorders with an additional full-resolution true electronic still picture (ESP) mode of operation. The CCD sensor is composed of an image section, an intermediate readout register, a storage section, and a second readout register. A resolution of 450 TV lines (H) is obtained in color images by applying cyan-green-yellow complementary stripe color filters on the 1187(H)*581(V) pixels. The operation of the sensor in both conventional video and ESP modes is described. Special attention is paid to the 3-D potential calculations required to obtain a design guaranteeing a high-quality picture. Experimental results are presented. >

The double-sided floating-surface detector: an enhanced charge-detection architecture for CCD image sensors

A new high speed, low noise, non-destructive charge detector, called the Double-Sided Floating-Surface Detector (DSFSD), which is fabricated in a standard CCD image sensor process, is reported. This detector can be integrated in CCD image sensors and is capable of detecting large charge packets at very low noise levels. Typical values are 5-8 noise electrons (within 5 MHz) for a charge packet size of 100,000 to 250,000 electrons. The detector is used as the first MOS transistor in a three-stage source-follower configuration with a bandwidth of 150 MHz. The performance of the detector is calculated using a new, simple, model and experimentally verified.

Development of a 300,000-pixel ultrahigh-speed, high-sensitivity CCD

We are developing an ultrahigh-speed, high-sensitivity broadcast camera that is capable of capturing clear, smooth slow-motion videos even where lighting is limited, such as at professional baseball games played at night. In earlier work, we developed an ultrahigh-speed broadcast color camera1) using three 80,000-pixel ultrahigh-speed, highsensitivity CCDs2). This camera had about ten times the sensitivity of standard high-speed cameras, and enabled an entirely new style of presentation for sports broadcasts and science programs. Most notably, increasing the pixel count is crucially important for applying ultrahigh-speed, high-sensitivity CCDs to HDTV broadcasting. This paper provides a summary of our experimental development aimed at improving the resolution of CCD even further: a new ultrahigh-speed high-sensitivity CCD that increases the pixel count four-fold to 300,000 pixels.

A 1/3" progressive scan 1280(H) x960(V) FT-CCD for digital still camera applications.

A 1/3” progressive scan QGA-format 1280(H) x 960(V) FT-CCD imager with 3.7x3.7 pm2 pixels designed for digital still camera applications is presented. A reduced storage section in combination with subsampling allows the generation of a color NTSC compatible signal.

An Ultrahigh-Speed, High-Sensitivity, Portable CCD Color Camera

The authors have been developing ultrahigh-speed, high-sensitivity broadcast cameras that are capable of capturing clear, smooth, slow-motion video even in conditions with limited lighting, such as at professional baseball games played at night. In 2003, the first broadcast color camera using three 80,000-pixel ultrahigh-speed, high-sensitivity charge-coupled devices (CCDs) was developed. This camera is capable of ultrahigh-speed video recording at up to 1,000,000 frames/sec, with about ten times the sensitivity of standard high-speed cameras. It has enabled an entirely new style of presentation for sports broadcasts and science programs. The authors continue research to improve the cameras resolution. This paper discusses the development of the first ever ultrahigh-speed high-sensitivity CCD with 300,000 pixels—a four-fold increase over the previous version, as well as the development of a single-chip portable color camera mounted with this CCD.

A 2/3" 2-M pixel progressive scan FT-CCD for digital still camera applications

The first 2M-pixel CCD image sensor especially developed for digital still camera applications is presented. The sensor can be operated in various modes, to best suit the camera requirements. High-quality full resolution images are obtained using the cameras mechanical shutter. A variety of subsampled color images of reduced vertical resolution can be generated by simply changing the pulse pattern, allowing, e.g. real-time preview mode on the cameras LCD display, or fast auto-focus mode. The sensor output amplifier combines low noise and excellent linearity with a high conversion factor.

A 2/3" 1188(H) * 484(V) frame-transfer CCD for ESP and movie mode

A high-resolution frame-transfer CCD (charge coupled device) imager for NTSC standards was developed for use in both conventional movie mode and electronic still picture mode. The requirements for these modes of operation are illustrated. The CCD structure consists of an image section, an intermediate output register, a storage section and a second output register. Operation of the sensor in both modes is described. Special attention is paid to the 3-D potential calculations required to obtain a design guaranteeing a high-quality picture. Experimental results are presented.<<ETX>>

An image sensor of 1,000,000 fps, 300,000 pixels, and 144 consecutive frames

An image sensor for an ultra-high-speed video camera was developed. The maximum frame rate, the pixel count and the number of consecutive frames are 1,000,000 fps, 720 x 410 (= 295,200) pixels, and 144 frames. A micro lens array will be attached on the chip, which increases the fill factor to about 50%. In addition to the ultra-high-speed image capturing operation to store image signals in the in-situ storage area adjacent to each pixel, standard parallel readout operation at 1,000 fps for full frame readout is also introduced with sixteen readout taps, for which the image signals are transferred to and stored in a storage device with a large capacity equipped outside the sensor. The aspect ratio of the frame is about 16 : 9, which is equal to that of the HDTV format. Therefore, a video camera with four sensors of the ISIS-V4, which are arranged to form the Bayer’s color filter array, realizes an ultra-high-speed video camera of a semi-HDTV format.

The hole role

The importance of holes in solid-state image sensors is described. Todays success of digital imaging is based on the positive effect of an accumulation layer that reduces the interface-related dark current and dark current fixed-pattern noise. This superb imaging feature is applied in CCD as well as in CMOS devices, in consumer as well as in professional equipment. Holes are not only used to improve the dark performance of imagers, other examples are fixing electrostatic potentials, creating gate structures, draining photon-generated charges and constructing output-amplifier stages