Key Technologies and Research Development of CMOS Image Sensors

INTRODUCTION
There are two types solid-state image sensor: CCD (Charge Coupled Device) SENSOR:A CCD Image sensor is an analog device . When light strikes the chip it is held as a small electrical charge in each photo sensor . The charges are converted to voltage one pixel at a time as they are read from the chip . Additional circuitry converts the voltage into digital form. CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) SENSOR :In CMOS sensor, each pixel has its own charge- to-voltage conversion , and the sensor often includes amplifiers , noise-correction , and digitization circuits . These other functions on-chip increase the design complexity but reduce the space required for processing.

CMOS IMAGE SENSOR(CIS)

The development of CMOS image sensor has experienced two generations: 1.PPS (Passive pixel sensor) : These where the first image sensor devices used in the 1960s.In passive pixel CMOS sensors , a photosite converts photons into an electrical charge . This charge is then carried off the sensor and amplified . The problem with these sensors is noise that appears as a background pattern in the image . To cancel out this noise , sensors often use additional processing steps. 2.APS (Active Pixel Sensor):Image sensor elements with in-pixel amplifiers are called APS . Circuitry at each level determines what its noise level is and cancels it out , thus reducing the noise associated with each pixel .It is this active circuitry that gives the active pixel device its name.

ADVANTAGES OF CIS
Wide dynamic range pixel size read out speed power consumption anti-radiation capability

TWO KEY PROBLEMS OF AFFECTING IMAGE QUALITY OF CMOS SENSOR Structure of CMOS Sensor Noise of CMOS Sensor

Structure of CMOS Sensor

Noise of CMOS Sensor

LATEST RESEARCH PROGRESS OF CMOS IMAGE SENSOR

New Sensor-Exmor R CMOS Development of Noise Suppression for CMOS Image Sensor

New Sensor-Exmor R CMOS

Exmor is the new technology implemented by Sony in the field of CMOS Image sensors . This revolutionary new technology performs on-chip analog to digital conversion and two-step noise reduction in parallel on each column of CMOS sensor . The new Exmor R CMOS sensor work on BACK ILLUMINATED TECHNOLOGY unlike conventional sensors that works on FRONT ILLUMINATED TECHNOLOGY.

Working of Exmor R CMOS sensor

In conventional sensors , the light receptors are placed behind the wire circuits.(Front I Illuminated Technology).The wire circuits partly blocks the light , while travelling to the receptive areas of sensor , thus reducing the total amounts of light that reach to the light receptor. During low light conditions , the signals from the sensor have to be boosted electronically , creating the noise thats seen as fuzzy images or grains. The Exmor R CMOS sensor that works on back illuminated technology which replaces the position of layers , so that light receptors are not blocked by wire circuits . Thus the light falls to receptive areas of the of sensor and thus resulting in more light and there is no need to boost the signals from sensor . This , in turn reduces the noise up to a great extent and hence results in improved video and still picture quality with less light especially in low light conditions.

Development of Noise Suppression for CMOS Image Sensor

THE APPLICATION OF CMOS IMAGE SENSOR IN THE FIELD OF REMOTE SENSING

The Observation Application of UV Spectral The Observation Application of Bright Stars The Application of Remote Imaging The Application of Star Tracker The Application of Solar Sensor

The Observation Application of UV Spectral

CMOS image sensor uses standard production technique of CMOS semiconductor, the noise margin is big, anti-jamming ability is very strong, spatial radiation protection ability is very good, therefore CMOS image sensor can be used in the UV spectral detector.

The Observation Application of Bright Stars

When we use CCD imaging system to detect the bright star, the pixel element is very easy saturated, this brings a series of problem, such as blooming and smear and so on. If uses the CMOS imaging system, which dynamic range is big, and it does not have overflow between the pixel element, so we may use CMOS imaging system to observe starry sky, which includes the bright stars. Similarly, in other needs of the large dynamic range of space applications, we also use the CMOS imaging system.

The Application of Remote Imaging

At present, there are many earth observation imaging systems, but the price of imaging system is very expensive, the power consumption is very high, the system size is very huge, it is difficult to achieve miniaturization. With the decrease of spacecraft size, the light imaging technology will become the main observation method, but the CCD image system is difficulty to meet the requirements of volume, weight and the power consumption, however, the CMOS image sensor has some advantages in power consumption, volume, weight, the cost, the radio resistance ability and so on, therefore the CMOS image sensor has a widespread application prospect in the field of remote imaging.

The Application of Star Tracker

With the development of spacecraft and the satellite technology, the star tracker plays a vital role in navigation systems of spacecraft. The star tracker is mainly used for high accuracy posture determining of the satellite, the airship, the aerospace craft, space station, it can be used in rockets, missiles, guidance and control, but also can be use for precise location and survey of the submarine, ships. Tradition star tracker is based on CCD image sensor, because higher weight, power consumption and volume, the CCD image system is difficult to use in micro-satellites. If we use the CMOS image sensor, these problems can be solved very well, therefore under the premise of guaranteeing the image quality, CMOS image sensor can be used in star tracker.

The Application of Solar Sensor

The solar sensor is a widely used posture sensor, which has strict requirements to the system weight, the system volume, the system power consumption and so on, at the same time, the rapid localization needs a fast readout speed. In view of the technical advantages of CMOS sensor, it is impossible to use CMOS image sensor to replace CCD in solar sensor.

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*DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE IN VLSI