High sensitivity image sensor

许多科学和工业成像应用需要紧凑，低噪声，高灵敏度的相机。通常有两种选择：电荷耦合器件（ccd）和基于互补金属氧化物半导体（CMOS）的成像仪。由于更高的功耗和更大的占地面积，ccd不如CMOS。因此，对低光、高灵敏度CMOS相机的需求稳步增长。到目前为止，已经提出了几种允许噪声的技术：主动降噪，精确和放大读出。一些最先进的解决方案具有低噪音，但缺乏所需的灵敏度；另一些非常敏感，但缺乏主动噪声抑制。我们开发了一种卓越的传感器，它包括三种低噪声和高灵敏度技术，因此优于最先进的解决方案。我们的目标是更大规模的功能原型实现我们独特的传感器，HI-SENS（高灵敏度，低噪声和宽动态范围成像仪）。该提案试图与加拿大公司Xiris合作，专门从事制造过程控制应用，以评估这种传感器在其焊接应用中的好处。该传感器将能够在高度照明的区域以及昏暗的光线下工作，并且能够识别焊接过程中的裂纹，而无需额外的光源，或将裂纹归因于传感器不均匀性。低噪声、高灵敏度和WDR特性将使所提出的传感器成为一个通用的传感平台，适用于许多工业和研究应用，如安全、生物医学等。该提案对加拿大的好处包括开发具有全球利益的竞争性技术，从而为像Xiris这样的加拿大公司提供实质性的市场优势。

Many scientific and industry imaging applications require compact, low noise, high sensitivity cameras.Typically, there are two options: Charge Couple Devices (CCDs) and Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor (CMOS) based imagers. CCDs are inferior to CMOS due to higher power consumption andlarger footprint. Therefore, the demand for low light, high sensitivity CMOS cameras grows steadily. Severallow noise techniques have been proposed so far: active noise reduction, precise and amplified readout. Some ofthe state of the art solutions possess low noise, but lack the required sensitivity; others are very sensitive, butlack the active noise suppression. We have developed a superior sensor, which comprises three low noise andhigh sensitivity techniques, and hence being advantageous over state of the art solutions.We aim for a larger scale functional prototype implementation of our unique sensor, HI-SENS (HighSensitivity, Low Noise and Wide Dynamic Range imager). This proposal attempts a collaboration with aCanadian Company, Xiris, specializing in the manufacturing process control applications to evaluate thebenefits of such a sensor in their welding application. The sensor will be capable of functioning under highlyilluminated areas as well as in dim light and be able to recognize cracks in the welding process withoutrequiring an additional light source, or attributing the crack to sensor non uniformity.Low noise, high sensitivity and WDR features will make the proposed sensor a versatile sensing platform,applicable to many industry and research applications, such as security, biomed, and etc. The benefits of thisproposal to Canada include the development of a competitive technology of global interest, thus providingCanadian companies such as Xiris a substantial market advantage.