1/f and RTS Noise Reduction

As mentioned in Theses post, Oregon State University published Drake A. Miller's PhD Thesis "Random Dopants and Low-Frequency Noise Reduction in Deep-Submicron MOSFET Technology". The thesis is quite rich in experimental data os pixel source follower noise. The figure below shows more than order of magnitude variations in 1/f noise across the wafer:

Noise spectral power plots of 10 devices taken from
10 different locations across the wafer (see inset).

Any channel doping, such as Vth adjust, significantly increases 1/f and RTS noise:

Box plots of source follower noise power spectrum plots.
Red (Dark) boxes are doped devices.
Green (Light) boxes are undoped “native” transistors.

Few Vth adjust splits were measured:

It's not clear why S4 and S7 are not shown, but S1-S3 clearly show noise improvement:

The total read noise histogram clearly demonstrates the advantage of lightly doped source follower:

RTS Statistics shows the same:

3D News: Primesense, GestureTek, TYZX, Guinness

In a little more than one week passed since Primesense released its OpenNI drivers the open source community produced an amazing quantity of 3D-based games. Youtube has tens of videos demos of these games, simple applications and trials. Here is one of them:



Imaging Executive Podcast published an interview with GestureTek co-founder and president Vincent John talking about different projects with 3D cameras.

TYZX is in the Guinness World Records Museum, not as record-holder, but as part of a new interactive display created by design firm Electroland. When pedestrians pass the Hollywood Boulevard, LA - located museum, the three TYZX cameras detect their presence and triggers the display 3D avatars on a series of large flat-panel displays. The avatars perform various world-record feats, such as juggling chainsaws.

Update: Business Wire: Primesense announces the launch of its OpenNI (Open Natural Interaction) consortium, an industry-led, nonprofit organization formed to accelerate the introduction of Natural Interaction applications into the marketplace. The role of OpenNI is to certify and promote the compatibility and interoperability of Natural Interaction devices, applications and middleware, while encouraging developers to build applications and create experiences that will shape the future of Natural Interaction.

Hamamatsu Enhances IR Sensitivity by MEMS Structures

Recently Hamamatsu has announced a number of silicon-based sensors with enhanced NIR sensitivity. These sensors are said to utilize MEMS structures fabricated by using "unique laser processing technology" to achieve a significant enhancement of NIR sensitivity. Another explanation of MEMS action is on Electro Optics site: "Using unique laser processing technology, MEMS structures can be fabricated on the silicon surface, which act to reduce reflections and increase the surface area of the active element. This process drastically increases the sensitivity in wavelengths longer than 800nm."

PIN diode NIR extension is quite big:

In case of BSI FT-CCD the MEMS structure is formed at the backside and NIR extension is somewhat less than in the PIN diode case:

MDT: The S11510 BSI CCD features QE "of 40% at 1,000 nm, without the need for a deep depletion structure, with its corresponding drawback of higher dark signal. The S11510 series is available with 1,024 or 2,048 pixels, with each pixel measuring 14 by 14 µm." The new NIR CCD products have been announced about a year ago, but the PR had no reference to the MEMS technology at that time.

JVC Developed 8.3MP/60fps Camera Processor

JVC has developed high-speed camera processors able to work with 8.3MP 60fps video stream. The LSI enables shooting and recording Full 2D/3D HD at 60p fps speed, and also ultra-high-resolution 4K2K (3840 x 2160/60p) images of approximately four times the resolution of Full HD. High-speed photography with high-speed processing also is possible, delivering JPEG processing at 8.3MP/60fps speed.

TowerJazz Presentation at ISE 2010

I was given TowerJazz presentation at Image Sensor Europe in March 2010 titled:

Foundry business for CMOS Image Sensors
Dr. Avi Strum, VP & GM Specialty BU

Below are few slides from the presentation talking about the company's approach and technology achievements:

A slide showing stitching quality for large sensors:

BSI becomes an option for TowerJazz customers:

Lightpipe is another available option:

All in all, it seems that access to a lot of advanced technologies is now available to the smaller players on the image sensor market.