Proceedings Article | 12 December 2001
KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Sensors, Stars, Cameras, Analog electronics, Sun, Active sensors, Remote sensing, Optical tracking, Image sensors
JPL has implemented advances in CMOS APS visible sensors well suited for the development of ultra-low power, miniature, highly integrated image sensor systems. Applications for these low cost, modular, high performance 'camera-on-a-chip' sensors include: remote earth and planetary visible science cameras, wireless payload deployment monitors for large mirrors, solar panels, booms and antennas, and FPAs for star trackers, sun sensors and high bandwidth multi-window optical communication beacon tracker. This paper reports on the newest generation of CMOS APS dubbed the Versatile Integrated Digital Imager or VIDI APS 'camera-on-a-chip.' VIDI is an integrated, digital 'chip-camera' with a 512 X 512 format, 12-um pixels, utilizing a single 3.3 V supply, with analog or 10-bit digital output, fabricated on a standard 0.5 um CMOS process. The chip size is 10 mm X 15.5 mm. Features include a simple, all digital 'five-wire' interface, on-chip timing, control, four five-bit DACs for bias generation, and 512 column parallel ADCs, VIDI offers programmable exposure, resolution, data efficient 'smart' area-of-interest windowed high speed readout, no blooming, while continuing to operate with approximately 20 mW of power in the on-state and approximately 40 uW in the 'sleep' state and has a maximum data rate of 20 Mbits/sec.
