Michel Tulet

High-performance monolithic CMOS detectors for space applications

During the last 10 years, research about CMOS image sensors (also called APS - Active Pixel Sensors) has been intensively carried out, in order to offer an alternative to CCDs as image sensors. This is particularly the case for space applications as CMOS image sensors feature characteristics which are obviously of interest for flight hardware: parallel or semi-parallel architecture, on chip control and processing electronics, low power dissipation, high level of radiation tolerance... Many image sensor companies, institutes and laboratories have demonstrated the compatibility of CMOS image sensors with consumer applications: micro-cameras, video-conferencing, digital- still cameras. And recent designs have shown that APS is getting closer to the CCD in terms of performance level. However, he large majority of the existing products do not offer the specific features which are required for many space applications. ASTRIUM and SUPAERO/CIMI have decided to work together in view of developing CMOS image sensors dedicated to space business. After a brief presentation of the team organization for space image sensor design and production, the latest results of a high performances 512 X 512 pixels CMOS device characterization are presented with emphasis on the achieved electro-optical performance. Finally, the on going and short-term coming activities of the team are discussed.

Influence of pixel topology on performances of CMOS APS imagers

This paper describes a 128 X 128 pixels prototype array organized as sub-arrays of 32 X 32 pixels each, with 21 micrometers pixel pitch. The sub-arrays, photodiode or photogate based, are implemented using a standard 0.7 micrometers CMOS process. Various topologies of the photosensitive area have been implemented and some of them have an optical metal shield over the so-called non-sensitive area to evaluate the contribution of the active electronic area to the responsivity of the sensor. A synthesis of the measurements carried out by CIMI-SUPAERO and MMS, addressing darkness parameters, noise, photometric and radiometric performances, are presented with emphasis on the photogate type pixels. Results of spot-scan analysis and crosstalk measurements performed on selected topologies are also reported. Several samples were irradiated at different proton doses and their related behavior is discussed. From these results, a new 512 X 512 pixels array has been designed for space applications. The main features of this APS device are presented here.

Design and characterization of CMOS APS imagers with two different technologies

In the paper, we present experimental results from measurements on CMOS PAS imager designed by CIMI-SUPAERO on two different technologies. In both cases, pixels with photoMos and photodiode structures have been designed. The first circuit has been developed using a standard CMOS DLP/DLM 1.2 micrometers process from Austria Micro Systems. The detector array consists of 32 X 32 square pixels with 50 micrometers pixel pitch; fill factor is 75 percent for photodiode and 50 percent for photoMos. The circuit is also including row and column address decoders and the readout circuitry so as to perform on-chip correlated double-delta sampling to reduce column to column fixed pattern noise. Two other chips have been developed with a standard CMOS SLP/DLM process form MIETEC with 0.7 micrometers design rules, which includes a 128 X 128 pixels array, with 21 micrometers pixel pitch and analogue redout circuitry. Among 10 different arrays, no faulty one was observed for both circuits. In this paper, we compare both performances of 32 X 32 pixels and 128 X 128 pixels in terms of dark current, quantum efficiency, conversion gain, dynamic range, linearity and spatial uniformity.

Development of high-performance monolithic CMOS detectors for space applications

This paper describes the development of a 750x750 pixels CMOS image sensor for star tracker applications. A first demonstrator of such a star tracker called SSM star tracker built around a 512x512 detector has been recently developed and proves the feasibility of such instrument. In order to take fully advantage of the CMOS image sensor step, the 750x750 device called SSM CMOS detector which will take part of the final star tracker, can be considered as a major technical breakthrough that gives a decisive advantage in terms of on satellite implementation cost and flexibility (sensor mass and power consumption minimisation, electronics and architecture flexibility). Indeed, built using the 0.5μm Alcatel Microelectronics standard CMOS technolgoy, the SSM CMOS detector will feature on-chip temperature sensor and on-chip sequencer. In order to evaluate the radiation tolerance of such manufacturing technology, a radiation campaign that contains studies of total dose and latch-up effects has been led on a specific test vehicle.

Research-grade CMOS image sensors for demanding space applications

Imaging detectors are key elements for optical instruments and sensors on board space missions dedicated to Earth observation (high resolution imaging, atmosphere spectroscopy...), Solar System exploration (micro cameras, guidance for autonomous vehicle...) and Universe observation (space telescope focal planes, guiding sensors...). This market has been dominated by CCD technology for long. Since the mid- 90s, CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) have been competing with CCDs for more and more consumer domains (webcams, cell phones, digital cameras...). Featuring significant advantages over CCD sensors for space applications (lower power consumption, smaller system size, better radiations behaviour...), CMOS technology is also expanding in this field, justifying specific R&D and development programs funded by national and European space agencies (mainly CNES, DGA, and ESA). All along the 90s and thanks to their increasingly improving performances, CIS have started to be successfully used for more and more demanding applications, from vision and control functions requiring low-level performances to guidance applications requiring medium-level performances. Recent technology improvements have made possible the manufacturing of research-grade CIS that are able to compete with CCDs in the high-performances arena. After an introduction outlining the growing interest of optical instruments designers for CMOS image sensors, this talk will present the existing and foreseen ways to reach high-level electro-optics performances for CIS. The developments of CIS prototypes built using an imaging CMOS process and of devices based on improved designs will be presented.

Development of a 750x750 pixels CMOS imager sensor for tracking applications

Solid-state optical sensors are now commonly used in space applications (navigation cameras, astronomy imagers, tracking sensors...). Although the charge-coupled devices are still widely used, the CMOS image sensor (CIS), which performances are continuously improving, is a strong challenger for Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) systems. This paper describes a 750x750 pixels CMOS image sensor that has been specially designed and developed for star tracker and tracking sensor applications. Such detector, that is featuring smart architecture enabling very simple and powerful operations, is built using the AMIS 0.5μm CMOS technology. It contains 750x750 rectangular pixels with 20μm pitch. The geometry of the pixel sensitive zone is optimized for applications based on centroiding measurements. The main feature of this device is the on-chip control and timing function that makes the device operation easier by drastically reducing the number of clocks to be applied. This powerful function allows the user to operate the sensor with high flexibility: measurement of dark level from masked lines, direct access to the windows of interest… A temperature probe is also integrated within the CMOS chip allowing a very precise measurement through the video stream. A complete electro-optical characterization of the sensor has been performed. The major parameters have been evaluated: dark current and its uniformity, read-out noise, conversion gain, Fixed Pattern Noise, Photo Response Non Uniformity, quantum efficiency, Modulation Transfer Function, intra-pixel scanning. The characterization tests are detailed in the paper. Co60 and protons irradiation tests have been also carried out on the image sensor and the results are presented. The specific features of the 750x750 image sensor such as low power CMOS design (3.3V, power consumption<100mW), natural windowing (that allows efficient and robust tracking algorithms), simple proximity electronics (because of the on-chip control and timing function) enabling a high flexibility architecture, make this imager a good candidate for high performance tracking applications.

Smart CMOS image sensor for lightning detection and imaging

We present a CMOS image sensor dedicated to lightning detection and imaging. The detector has been designed to evaluate the potentiality of an on-chip lightning detection solution based on a smart sensor. This evaluation is performed in the frame of the predevelopment phase of the lightning detector that will be implemented in the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite for the European Space Agency. The lightning detection process is performed by a smart detector combining an in-pixel frame-to-frame difference comparison with an adjustable threshold and on-chip digital processing allowing an efficient localization of a faint lightning pulse on the entire large format array at a frequency of 1 kHz. A CMOS prototype sensor with a 256×256 pixel array and a 60 μm pixel pitch has been fabricated using a 0.35 μm 2P 5M technology and tested to validate the selected detection approach.

Space optical instruments optimisation thanks to CMOS image sensor technology

Today, both CCD and CMOS sensors can be envisaged for nearly all visible sensors and instruments designed for space needs. Indeed, detectors built with both technologies allow excellent electro-optics performances to be reached, the selection of the most adequate device being driven by their functional and technological features and limits. The first part of the paper presents electro-optics characterisation results of CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) built with an optimised CMOS process, demonstrating the large improvements of CIS electro-optics performances. The second part reviews the advantages of CMOS technology for space applications, illustrated by examples of CIS developments performed by EADS Astrium and Supaero/CIMI for current and short term coming space programs.

Research-grade CMOS image sensors for remote sensing applications

Imaging detectors are key elements for optical instruments and sensors on board space missions dedicated to Earth observation (high resolution imaging, atmosphere spectroscopy...), Solar System exploration (micro cameras, guidance for autonomous vehicle...) and Universe observation (space telescope focal planes, guiding sensors...). This market has been dominated by CCD technology for long. Since the mid-90s, CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) have been competing with CCDs for consumer domains (webcams, cell phones, digital cameras...). Featuring significant advantages over CCD sensors for space applications (lower power consumption, smaller system size, better radiations behaviour...), CMOS technology is also expanding in this field, justifying specific R&D and development programs funded by national and European space agencies (mainly CNES, DGA and ESA). All along the 90s and thanks to their increasingly improving performances, CIS have started to be successfully used for more and more demanding space applications, from vision and control functions requiring low-level performances to guidance applications requiring medium-level performances. Recent technology improvements have made possible the manufacturing of research-grade CIS that are able to compete with CCDs in the high-performances arena. After an introduction outlining the growing interest of optical instruments designers for CMOS image sensors, this paper will present the existing and foreseen ways to reach high-level electro-optics performances for CIS. The developments and performances of CIS prototypes built using an imaging CMOS process will be presented in the corresponding section.

Experimental characterization of CMOS APS imagers designed using two different technologies

This paper presents measurements results performed on CMOS APS imagers implemented on two different technologies. Both PhotoMOS (PM) and PhotoDiode (PD) structures have been designed by the CIMI-SUPAERO group and high APS readout rate measurements have been performed by Matra Marconi Space. Every circuit also includes the pixels address decoders and the readout circuit required to perform on-chip correlated double sampling and double delta sampling. The aim of this paper is to compare performances of those arrays operating at 5 Volts in terms of dark current, quantum efficiency, conversion gain, dynamic range.