Silicon-on-Insulator-Based Single-Chip Image Sensors: Low-Voltage Scientific Imaging

A low-voltage (≤3.3 V) imaging technology has been developed to enable scientific-grade imagers with low-power complex functions on chip. A 128 × 128 CCD imager with on-chip clocking and charge-domain analog-to-digital conversion, as well as an exploratory active pixel sensor have been demonstrated. A 640 × 960 CCD imager with optimized 12 bit charge-domain conversion and an improved active pixel sensor are presently in fabrication. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Orion: A 1–5 Micron Focal Plane for the 21st Century

The Orion program is a project to develop a 2K × 2K infrared focal plane using InSb p-on-n diodes for detectors. It is the natural follow-up to the successful Aladdin 1K × 1K program started in the early 90's. The work is being done at the Raytheon Infrared Operations Division (RIO, previously known as the Santa Barbara Research Center) by many of the same people who created the Aladdin focal plane. The design is very similar to the successful Aladdin design with the addition of reference pixels, whole array readout (no quadrants), two-adjacent-side buttability, and a packaging design that includes going directly to the ultimate focal plane size of 4K × 4K. So far we have successfully made a limited number of hybrid modules with InSb detectors. In this paper we will describe the design features and test data taken from some of these devices. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

CMOS图像传感器在太阳磁场观测中的应用研究

磁场是太阳物理的第1观测量,当前太阳磁场观测研究正迈向大视场、高时空分辨率、高偏振测量精度以及空间观测的时代.中国首颗太阳观测卫星—先进天基太阳天文台(ASO-S)也配置了具有高时空分辨率、高磁场灵敏度的全日面矢量磁像仪(FMG)载荷,针对FMG载荷的需求,讨论了大面阵、高帧频互补金属氧化物半导体(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, CMOS)图像传感器应用于太阳磁场观测的可行性.首先,基于滤光器型太阳磁像仪观测的原理,比较分析了目前CMOS图像传感器(可用的或是可选的两种快门模式)的特点,指出全局快门类型更适合FMG;其次搭建了CMOS传感器实验室测试系统,测量了CMOS图像传感器的像素增益及其分布规律;最后在怀柔太阳观测基地的全日面太阳望远镜上开展了实测验证,获得预期成果.在这些研究基础上,形成了FMG载荷探测器选型方向.     

Secrets of E2V Technologies CCDs (ex Marconi CCDs)

To complement previously published information on E2V CCDs, we present here some less well-known information about Marconi CCDs. We show details of the performance of deep depletion silicon variants, and discuss other subtleties of performance. We also present an update on L3vision (sub-electron noise) devices, indicating current availability, options, and ongoing development work. Finally, we will give a flavour of the range of custom designs that have been made. Many of these are not commercially available, and may not be familiar to all astronomers or CCD technologists. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Giga-Pixels and Sky Surveys

We describe a project to build a new type of astronomical CCD that should significantly decrease the cost per pixel of detectors. This device should also provide very fast readout, autoguiding capability, image motion compensation, and good red sensitivity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Very Large Format Back Illuminated CCDs

The University of Arizona Imaging Technology Laboratory has processed several types of very large format (>4K × 4K pixel) charge coupled devices for low light level scientific applications. These back illuminated devices were produced from frontside die fabricated by or for Fairchild Imaging Systems, Semiconductor Technology Associates, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Kodak. A Philips 7K × 9K frontside device has also been processed using similar techniques. The backside sensors yield >90% quantum efficiency (QE). All devices show excellent charge transfer efficiency (CTE > 0.999997) at operating temperatures (typically –100 °C). Devices specifically designed for low signal applications have been demonstrated with less than 4 electrons read noise. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An Overview of CCD Development at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Fully depleted, back-illuminated charge-coupled devices fabricated at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on high-resistivity silicon are described. Device operation and technology are discussed, as well as the results on telescopes and future plans. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

In-flight Performance of the Advanced Camera for Surveys CCDs

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), installed in the Hubble Space telescope in March 2002, will significantly extend HST's deep, survey imaging capabilities. ACS has met, or exceeded, all of its key performance specifications. In this paper we briefly review the in-flight performance of the instrument's CCD detectors and preview early ACS science observations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cosmic rays and other nonsense in astronomical CCD imagers

Cosmic-ray muons make recognizable straight tracks in the new-generation CCD's with thick sensitive regions. Wandering tracks (‘worms’), which we identify with multiply-scattered low-energy electrons, are readily recognized as different from the muon tracks. These appear to be mostly recoils from Compton-scattered gamma rays, although worms are also produced directly by beta emitters in dewar windows and field lenses. The gamma rays are mostly byproducts of ⁴⁰K decay and the U and Th decay chains. Trace amounts of these elements are nearly always present in concrete and other materials. The direct betas can be eliminated and the Compton recoils can be reduced significantly by the judicious choice of materials and shielding. The cosmic-ray muon rate is irreducible. Our conclusions are supported by tests at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory low-level counting facilities in Berkeley and 180 m underground at Oroville, California. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.