Advanced CMOS Imager based systems

图像传感器是各种技术的基本组成部分，如手机摄像头和生物识别、机器视觉和诊断/医疗设备。基于互补金属氧化物半导体（CMOS）图像传感器系统的最新突破带来了前所未有的成像和检测能力。围绕场景中的光强度、功耗、小型化、准确性以及可检测和识别的信息和物质范围的挑战仍然存在。我们工作的本质是设计和原型传感器具有这些特性。提出的工作旨在：1)显著提高在同一场景中同时存在极端低光和强光的环境中感知和监测快速移动物体的能力。最初针对焊接和制造等工业过程，这种机器视觉传感器将提高图像质量，并支持过程和质量控制管理。这样做可以减少和解决，例如，制造缺陷；影响生产时间和质量的昂贵问题。2)开发高灵敏度的光学滤光片，当放置在传感器表面时，可以在不同的pH值和温度条件下检测生物物质。在我们的第一个应用麸质检测上进行了测试，这项研究有望在中期（3-5年）引领其他过敏原的成像滤波器设计。这项工作的首批成果将允许食品制造商和个人在生产过程中检测过敏原；严重的健康问题3)创建最先进的快速灵活的算法，减少显示图像传感器检测到的各种像素值所需的计算能力。这里的目标是大大提高图像质量，同时减少时间和电力需求。这种重要的成像工具具有许多行业用途（例如：安全、生物识别、诊断），将作为应用程序提供，并可以集成到现有的传感器技术平台中。这三种技术，单独或结合起来，可直接应用于不同部门（例如：能源、环境、制造、卫生）。与这些领域的合作伙伴合作，我们正在开发将纳入拟议技术的设备，为加拿大的努力提供技术领先，HQP和社会和经济价值。

Image sensors are basic components of a wide array of technologies such as cell phone cameras and biometric, machine vision and diagnostic/medical devices. Recent breakthroughs in Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor based systems have led to unprecedented imaging and detection capabilities. Challenges around the intensity of light in a scene, power consumption, miniaturization, accuracy, and the range of information and substances that can be detected and identified, remain. The nature of our work is to design and prototype sensors with these characteristics. The proposed work aims to: 1) significantly improve the ability to sense and monitor rapidly moving objects in an environment where extremes of low and bright light can exist at the same time and in the same scene. Initially aimed at industrial processes such as welding and manufacturing, this machine vision sensor will improve image quality and support process and quality control management. In doing so it is possible to reduce and address, for example, manufacturing defects; a costly problem impacting production time and quality. 2) Develop highly sensitive optical filters which when placed on the sensor surface allow for the detection of biological substances, under varying pH and temperature conditions. Tested on our first application, gluten detection, this research is expected to lead to imaging filter designs for other allergens in the medium term (3-5 years). The first deliverables of this work would permit food manufacturers and individuals to test for allergens during production; a critical health issue. And 3) Create a state-of-the-art fast and flexible algorithm that reduces the computation power required to display a wide range of pixel values detected by an image sensor. The aim here is to vastly improve image quality while reducing time and power demands. Having many industry uses (e.g.: security, biometrics, diagnostics), this important imaging tool will be available as an App, and can be integrated in existing sensor technology platforms. These three technologies, individually or combined, have immediate application in diverse sectors (e.g.: energy, environment, manufacturing, health). Working with partners in these sectors we are developing devices that will incorporate the proposed technologies, providing technology leadership, HQP, and social and economic value to Canadian endeavours.