Taner Dosluoglu

Scientific CMOS Pixels

High performance CMOS pixels are introduced; and their development is discussed. 3T (3-transistor) photodiode, 5T pinned diode, 6T photogate and 6T photogate back illuminated CMOS pixels are examined in detail, and the latter three are considered as scientific pixels. The advantages and disadvantages of these options for scientific CMOS pixels are examined. Pixel characterization, which is used to gain a better understanding of CMOS pixels themselves, is also discussed.

CCD detector for the space telescope imaging spectrograph

The space telescope imaging spectrograph (STIS) is currently being developed for in-orbit installation onto the Hubble Space Telescope in 1997, where it will cover the wavelength range from 115 to 1000 nm in a variety of spectroscopic and imaging modes. For coverage of the 305 - 1000 nm region (and backup of the 165 - 305 nm) region, STIS will employ a custom CCD detector which has been developed at Scientific Imaging Technologies (SITe; formerly Tektronix CCD Products Group). This backside-illuminated device incorporates a proprietary SITe backside treatment and anti-reflective coating to extend the useful quantum efficiency shortward of 200 nm. It also features low noise amplifiers, multi-pinned-phase implants, mini-channel implants, and four quadrant readout. The CCD is thermo-electrically cooled to an operating temperature of -80 degree(s)C within a sealed, evacuated housing with its exterior at room temperature to minimize the condensation of absorbing contaminants in orbit. It is coupled to a set of low noise, flexible, fault-tolerant electronics. Both housing and electronics are being developed by the STIS prime contractor, Ball Aerospace & Communications Group. We describe here the design features, performance, and fabrication status of the STIS CCD and its associated subsystem, along with results of radiation testing.

Camera for adaptive optics use

Adaptive optics applications require a camera and detector that are capable of very high frame rates, high sensitivity and low noise. The PixelVision Adapt III camera achieves over 85 percent quantum efficiency and 12 electrons read noise at 1500 fps using the Adapt III, back illuminated CCD, designed by PixelVision, Inc. and manufactured by Scientific Imaging Technologies, Inc. The CCDs imaging area consists of 80 X 80 36 micrometers square pixels and utilizes full frame transfer architecture with an additional 80 rows in the storage region. To achieve low noise at high speeds, every two columns are mixed together into one output amplifier. There are 40 output amplifiers on the CCD and 40 analog channels. Digital data is mixed to a series stream and is transmitted over fiber optic cables to a PCI bus data acquisition board. Windows95 software drivers allow continuous acquisition of data into system memory. A water- cooled housing eliminates turbulence created by forced air cooling.

SIOO2A: a three side buttable 2048 x 4096 CCD image sensor

This paper will describe in some detail a new large area CCD image sensor designed specifically to be used either as a single imager or assembled in large, tightly configured mosaics of CCDs. The device has 2048 X 4096, 15 micrometers pixels. Performance data are presented on both front- and back-illuminated parts.

CCDs for spectroscopy

CCDs have been used in spectroscopy for a number of years and for all the obvious reasons. Unfortunately most scientific CCDs are square arrays and are not ideally formatted for spectroscopic applications. This paper discuses the design and fabrication of two CCD arrays specifically intended for use in spectroscopic applications. The devices have 1100 X 330 and 1752 X 532 pixel formats, and are fabricated using the three phase, overlapping polysilicon gate technology and they are available in both front-illuminated as well as back- illuminated versions. In addition, devices with enhanced UV sensitivity are being fabricated. Characterization data are presented. The architecture of these devices leads to some interesting applications which we discuss briefly.