"The test image sensor consists of pixels and temperature sensors pixels (=Tixels). The size of the Tixels is 11 μm × 11 μm. Pixels and Tixels are placed next to each other in the active imaging array and use the same readout circuits. The design and the first measurements of the combined image-temperature sensor are presented."
What's the application and field where this would be useful? Pixel size seems large, but that is probably due to author's node access ability, still, low dark current devices wouldn't benefit from this, what kind of unique niche CMOS sensors benefit from knowing array temperature map? I can't quite think of anything besides new technology heat imagers that are sensitive to non-uniform sensor temperatures and have low DSNU as a function of temperature and high dark current as a function of temperature.
ReplyDeleteThis device is the work of an MSc project, with the aim of proving the concept of having T-sensors in the active array of image pixels. And apparently it works.
ReplyDeleteYES, the pixels are large, but we did not care about pixel size because of the nature of the project. APPLICATIONS : temperature in a CIS is absolutely not equal and constant across the imaging array, due to 1) local heat dissipation (column circuitry, ADC), 2) heat dissipation in the logic/processing part of a stacked device.
At this moment we are working on smaller pixels, and alternative temperature sensors. Tape-out this coming November.