10000 pixels wide CMOS frame imager for earth observation from a HALE UAV

B. Delauré; S. Livens; J. Everaerts; R. Kleihorst; Gert Schippers; Yannick De Wit; John Compiet; Bartosz Banachowicz

doi:10.1117/12.830448

22 September 2009 10000 pixels wide CMOS frame imager for earth observation from a HALE UAV

B. Delauré, S. Livens, J. Everaerts, R. Kleihorst, Gert Schippers, Yannick De Wit, John Compiet, Bartosz Banachowicz

Proceedings Volume 7474, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XIII; 74741D (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.830448
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2009, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

MEDUSA is the lightweight high resolution camera, designed to be operated from a solar-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying at stratospheric altitudes. The instrument is a technology demonstrator within the Pegasus program and targets applications such as crisis management and cartography. A special wide swath CMOS imager has been developed by Cypress Semiconductor Cooperation Belgium to meet the specific sensor requirements of MEDUSA. The CMOS sensor has a stitched design comprising a panchromatic and color sensor on the same die. Each sensor consists of 10000*1200 square pixels (5.5μm size, novel 6T architecture) with micro-lenses. The exposure is performed by means of a high efficiency snapshot shutter. The sensor is able to operate at a rate of 30fps in full frame readout. Due to a novel pixel design, the sensor has low dark leakage of the memory elements (PSNL) and low parasitic light sensitivity (PLS). Still it maintains a relative high QE (Quantum efficiency) and a FF (fill factor) of over 65%. It features an MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) higher than 60% at Nyquist frequency in both X and Y directions The measured optical/electrical crosstalk (expressed as MTF) of this 5.5um pixel is state-of-the art. These properties makes it possible to acquire sharp images also in low-light conditions.

Citation Download Citation

B. Delauré, S. Livens, J. Everaerts, R. Kleihorst, Gert Schippers, Yannick De Wit, John Compiet, and Bartosz Banachowicz "10000 pixels wide CMOS frame imager for earth observation from a HALE UAV", Proc. SPIE 7474, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XIII, 74741D (22 September 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.830448

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