CCD Image Sensor Research Articles

Surface Passivation by Quantum Exclusion: On the Quantum Efficiency and Stability of Delta-Doped CCDs and CMOS Image Sensors in Space.

Radiation-induced damage and instabilities in back-illuminated silicon detectors have proved to be challenging in multiple NASA and commercial applications. In this paper, we develop a model of detector quantum efficiency (QE) as a function of Si-SiO2 interface and oxide trap densities to analyze the performance of silicon detectors and explore the requirements for stable, radiation-hardened surface passivation. By analyzing QE data acquired before, during, and after, exposure to damaging UV radiation, we explore the physical and chemical mechanisms underlying UV-induced surface damage, variable surface charge, QE, and stability in ion-implanted and delta-doped detectors. Delta-doped CCD and CMOS image sensors are shown to be uniquely hardened against surface damage caused by ionizing radiation, enabling the stability and photometric accuracy required by NASA for exoplanet science and time domain astronomy.

Luminescent down-shifting coatings for UV-responsive CCD image sensors

Luminescent down-shifting coatings for UV-responsive CCD image sensors

Optical Properties of Light-Scattering Standards for CCD Photometry.

This paper analyzes the light-scattering standards currently used for calibration (verification) and systematic research in photo and spectrophotometry tools. The application specificities in studying the diffuse reflected and transmitted light during biomedical CCD photometry are considered. The advantages of a new class of photometers with non-spherical reflectors as ellipsoids of revolution truncated along the focal planes with the internal mirror surface are presented. The ellipsoid first focal plane is combined with the surface of the under-study media, and the second is optically coupled to the CCD image sensor plane. The principles of zone analysis of spatial distribution reproduced in photometric images on a CCD sensor are substantiated. The illuminance levels of photometric image areas in reflected and transmitted light from the thickness of the standard for the wavelength of laser radiation of 650 nm of different power was experimentally investigated. Polynomial dependences were obtained, and regression coefficients of the illuminance of the external and middle rings in photometric images for the reflected and transmitted light on the laser power were determined.

Retracted] Deep Learning‐Based Leaf Region Segmentation Using High‐Resolution Super HAD CCD and ISOCELL GW1 Sensors

Super HAD CCD and ISOCELL GW1 imaging sensors are used for capturing images in high‐resolution cameras nowadays. These high‐resolution camera sensors were used in this work to acquire black gram plant leaf diseased images in natural cultivation fields. Segmenting plant leaf regions from the black gram cultivation field images is a preliminary step for disease identification and classification. It is also helpful for the farmers to assess the plants’ health and identify the diseases in their early stages. Even though plant leaf region segmentation has been effectively handled in many contributions, no universally applicable solution exists to solve all issues. Therefore, an approach for extracting leaf region from black gram plant leaf images is presented in this article. The novelty of the proposed method is that MobileNetV2 has been utilized as a backbone network for DeepLabv3+ layers to segment plant leaf regions. The DeepLabv3+ with MobileNetV2 segmentation model exhibited superior performance compared to the other models (SegNet, U‐Net, DeepLabv3+ with ResNet18, ResNet50, Xception, and InceptionResNetV2) in terms of accuracy of 99.71%, Dice of 98.72%, and Jaccard/IoU of 97.47% when data augmentation was applied. The algorithms were developed and trained using MATLAB software. Each of the experimental trials reported in this article surpasses the prior findings.

Review on optical visual sensor technology

视觉传感是人类感知外界、认知世界的主要途径，研究表明人类获取的外界信息大约有80%来自于视觉。作为感知外界信息的“电子眼球”，视觉传感器是消费电子、机器视觉、安防监控、科学探测和军事侦察等领域的核心器件。近年来视觉传感器技术发展迅速，不同类型的传感器从不同维度提供丰富的视觉数据，不断增强人类感知与认知能力，视觉传感器研究工作具有重要的理论与应用需求。本报告以典型光学视觉传感器技术为主线，通过综合国内外文献和相关报道，从CCD图像传感器、CMOS图像传感器、智能视觉传感器以及红外图像传感器等研究方向，梳理论述近年来光学视觉传感器技术的发展现状、前沿动态、热点问题和趋势。;Visual sensing technique is essential for human to perceive and understand the world around them. An electronic eyeball can be melted into outdoor-related visual information, and visual sensors are equipped with such domains like consumer electronics, machine vision, surveillance, and academic researches. Visual sensor technology-based multiple sensors can be used to richer multi-dimension visual data, which can enhance human-related perceptive and cognitive ability. This literature review is focused on the growth of optical visual sensor technology, including such image sensors in relevance to CCD, CMOS, intelligent-visual, and infrared-context. The CMOS image sensor chip is produced in terms of CMOS technology, in which image acquisition unit and signal processing unit can be integrated into the same chip. It can be massproduced to a certain extent. Cost-effective applications can be oriented to such aspects in related to small size, light weight, low cost and low power consumption. With the rapid development of autonomous driving, intelligent transportation, machine vision and other fields, multi-functional and intelligent CMOS image sensors with small size will become the focus of research. The emerging CCD sensor technology and its applications have been facilitating as well. The potentials of CCD image sensor can be applied for such domains in related to remote sensing, astronomy, low light detection. In the future, the multi-spectral TDI CCD architecture based on CCD and CMOS fusion technology will be widely used. Infrared image sensor is configured and set that infrared radiation detection can be converted into physical quantity. The high-performance digital signal processing function can be integrated on the infrared focal plane. The newly infrared image sensor can be focused on larger array, higher resolution, wider spectrums, more flexible sensitivity, multi-band, and system-level chip further.

Experiment and Analysis of Performance Degradation of CCD Image Sensors Induced by Proton Radiation with Different Energy

Experiment and Analysis of Performance Degradation of CCD Image Sensors Induced by Proton Radiation with Different Energy

Some Studies on Measurement of Worn Surface by Digital Image Processing

Digital image processing (DIP) becomes a common tool for analyzing engineering problems by fast, frequent and noncontact method of identification and measurement. An attempt has been made in the present investigation to use this method for automatically detecting the worn regions on the material surface and also its measurement. Brass material has been used for experimentation as it is used generally as a bearing material. A pin on disc dry sliding wear testing machine has been used for conducting the experiments by applying loads from 10 N to 50 N and by keeping sliding distance and sliding speed constant. After testing, images are acquired by using 1/2 inch interline transfer CCD image sensor with 795(H)[Formula: see text]896(V) spatial resolution of 8.6[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m (H)[Formula: see text]8.3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m (V) unit cell. Denoising has been done to remove any possible noise followed by contrast stretching to enhance image for wear region extraction. Segmentation tool was used to divide the worn and unworn regions by identifying white regions greater than a threshold value with an objective of quantifying the worn surface for tested specimen. Canny edge detection and granulometry techniques have been used to quantify the wear region. The results revel that the specific wear rate increases with increase in applied load, at constant sliding speed and sliding distance. Similarly, the area of worn region as identified by DIP also increased from 42.7% to 69.97%. This is because of formation of deeper groves in the worn material.

МОДЕРНІЗАЦІЯ АСТРОНОМІЧНОГО КОМПЛЕКСУ СПОСТЕРЕЖНОЇ СТАНЦІЇ ЛІСНИКИ

The Lisnyky observation station (international code 585) is actively used for observations of small bodies and for educational purpose. The station operates two telescopes AZT-8 (D=700 mm, F=2830 mm, D/F=1:4) and AZT-14 (D=480 mm, F=7715 mm, D/F=1:16). They have an outdated design and need to be modernized to meet the modern requirements of observational astronomy. The world practice of modernizing optical telescopes is reduced, as a rule, to installing new modern light receivers, changing the optical system, improving optical characteristics by aluminizing mirrors. Light receivers are now CCD image sensors, the use of which allows you to significantly increase the penetrating power (to observe fainter objects) and the temporal and spatial resolution of telescopes. Modern light receivers are equipped with automatic filter units with various sets of astronomical filters. Different sets of light receivers are used for different tasks of observational astronomy. The concept of modernization of the observation complex based on the AZT-14 and AZT-8 telescopes was developed according to these modern requirements. A new Moravian C4-16000ES CMOS camera (4096 × 4096 pixels, 9 × 9 μm) with a UBVRI light filter unit of the Johnson-Cousins photometric system was installed at the main focus of the AZT-8 telescope in 2021. In this version, the telescope is used to monitor small bodies and search for new comets and asteroids, photometric and positional observations of comets, observations of active galactic nuclei. An optical reducer (4.5 times reduction focal length) with a block of broadband light filters BVRI light filters was developed and manufactured for the AZT-14 telescope in order to increase the field of view on the CCD array, reduce the size of star images and increase the light power of the telescope. A new block of 8 comet narrowband filters, which is used with the Apogee Alta U47 CCD camera, was designed and manufactured for observations of comets. An electronic control system, which includes the following main electronic components: a light filter position sensor board, an electronic board, a stable frequency generator, a stepper motor driver, a controller for controlling all electronic components and for communication with a personal computer, was developed and manufactured for control the unit.

The combined mode of operation of a digital range-gated surveillance device for operating in low illumination conditions

The paper presents the results of researching the method to improve digital range-gated surveillance device base of CCD image sensor for reduced illumination conditions. Due to the rejection of the image intensifier the CCD-base device cannot get images of sufficient quality in such conditions if it is applied in range-gated mode. The reason is insufficient exposure time for each frame. The presented solution of the problem is a combination of both passive and range-gated observation modes. It allows reducing the lower threshold of operating illumination. The paper describes exactly how to combine the two modes at once without framerate decreasing.

Characterization of the angular response of a multi-directional spectroradiometer for measuring spectral radiance

Despite its importance, few instruments are able to measure the angular distribution of the solar spectrum with a high spectral and temporal resolution. We present a novel characterization method of the multi-directional entrance optics of the AMUDIS (Advanced MUltiDIrectional Spectroradiometer) which is a multidirectional spectroradiometer based on three CCD image sensors combined with imaging spectrographs. The new type of entrance optics consists of 435 different optical fibres uniformly distributed along 145 directions covering the upper hemisphere and allowing simultaneous measurements of the radiance in the ultraviolet, visible and near infrared part of the spectrum, ranging from 280 nm to 1700 nm. The experimental setup for characterizing the multidirectional entrance optics is based on a 100 W halogen lamp and a robotic arm, which moves the lamp tangentially over the surface of a virtual sphere of 102.5 cm radius around the entrance optics. The characterization revealed misalignments in the position of the optical fibres of up to 3∘ (which can affect radiance measurements, specially under broken clouds conditions). The novel characterization method improved 3-fold the alignment up to ±0.1∘

Visualization of Arc Energy Distribution Based on CCD Image Sensor

With the advancement of computer and sensor technology, visualization research has been more and more widely used in the industrial field, especially for arc plasma research of high energy fields. During the electrical breaking process, the DC arc energy distribution directly affects the working performance of the switchgear. A single voltage and current monitoring method is difficult to characterize the complex energy evolution process of the arc. Therefore, the visualization of the arc energy distribution is particularly important. In this paper, the arc energy distribution of the arc combustion process is visualized as the main research content. The arc characteristic detection platform is built, and the voltage, current, contact displacement value and arc image between the contacts are synchronously collected. According to the spectral characteristics of the color CCD image sensor, the colorimetric temperature measurement formula with calibration coefficient is derived to establish the relationship between the pixel and the arc temperature. The acquired arc image is processed by matlab image processing technology to visualize the two-dimensional energy distribution characteristics of the arc in the horizontal projection direction during the breaking process.

Chromatic and Panchromatic Nonlinear Optoelectronic CMOSFETs for CMOS Image Sensors, Laser Multiplexing, Computing, and Communication

Traditionally, CMOS transistors are for low power, high speed, and high packing density applications. CMOS is also commonly used as power regulating devices, and light sensors (CCD or CMOS image sensors). In this paper, we would like to introduce Photonic CMOS as a light emitting device for optical computing, ASIC, power transistors, and ultra large scale integration (ULSI). A Photonic CMOS Field Effect Transistor is fabricated with a low-resistance laser or LED in the drain region, and multiple photon sensors in the channel / well regions. The MOSFET, laser, and photon sensors are fabricated as one integral transistor. With embedded nonlinear optical films, the Photonic CMOSFETs have the capability of detecting and generating focused laser beams of various frequencies to perform optical computing, signal modulation, polarization, and multiplexing for digital / analog processing and communication.

Development of the flatness detection system for cement concrete pavement construction phase

This article describes a pavement roughness detection system that can be used to test the flatness of the construction phase (before the concrete to harden) cement concrete pavement. The test system is based on optical triangulation principle, by the laser projector and a CCD image sensor camera composition, using a structured light technique for three-dimensional visual measurements. The system can plastic cement concrete pavement flatness detection directly help improve the flatness of the cement concrete pavement.

Measurement of Thermal expansion coefficient of solid Materials by double slit Interferometric method

Thermal expansion coefficient is a regular coefficient to describe the variation of geometric characteristics of matter under the action of thermal expansion and cold shrinkage effect, and it is an important index to measure the thermal stability of materials. A device for measuring the thermal expansion coefficient of solid materials by Yang’s double slit interferometric method with variable double slit spacing is mainly composed of laser, sliding Young double slit structure, temperature measuring and controlling instrument, shading tube, receiving device and solid material to be measured. The solid material is heated by ring heater, the temperature of solid material is displayed and controlled by temperature measuring and controlling instrument, and the change of stripe spacing is recorded by linear CCD image sensor. Compared with the traditional optical leverage method, this measuring device and method can significantly improve the accuracy of the measurement results and reduce the uncertainty of the measurement results.

Hardware-software System for Exploring the Possibility of Application of CCD Image Sensors as Part of Gated-Viewing Systems

This paper presents the results of the development and testing of a system for studying the operating modes of CCD sensors. The purpose of the study is to verify the performance of these sensors as part of a gated-viewing system without using an image intensifier or another external fast shutter. The system can be used to control a commercial CCD sensor in an undocumented way using signals of arbitrary shape, synchronize its operation with a laser emitter, receive and digitally process an image, and transfer it to external devices. Experiments with various CCD sensors have shown that a gated-viewing surveillance system can be developed based on an interline transfer CCD sensor without an image intensifier and can be used in applications.

The pre‐commercialization emergence of the combination of product features in the charge‐coupled device image sensor

AbstractResearch SummaryDespite recent investigations that expand our understanding of the evolution of a new industry and the role of its early actors, an exploration of the critical function of firm experimentation in the pre‐commercialization phase has been lacking in the literature. This study focuses on the pre‐commercialization phase of CCD image sensors and uncovers the emergence of the combination of product features—chosen through systematic experimentations—that define the post‐commercialization dominant design.Managerial SummaryWe examine how pre‐commercialization experimentation generates new knowledge that transfers from one early actor to another enabling them to sequentially mitigate the product performance trade‐offs associated with the combination of product features that define the eventual dominant design. Our findings describe how firm experimentation helps the emergence of product features in the pre‐commercialization phase of CCD image sensors, which shapes the post‐commercialization dominant design to emerge.

Vision-based robot sorting system

In view of the problems of inefficiency, quite expensively traditional manual sorting in the existing logistics industry, a vision-based robot sorting system is proposed. At the same time, in intelligent logistics, the use of machine vision for intelligent sorting tasks becomes more and more obvious. The automatic sorting robot uses vision to identify the target, locate the target, grab the target, and sort the target. After the robot vision technology is combined, the sorting is more efficient, stable and safe. The lack of sorting exists. Therefore, the vision-based robot sorting system has high application value. In this paper, for the hardware and software parts, STM32F4 is used as the main controller, and the CCD image sensor is used to establish the plane vision coordinate system. The experimental results show that the feasibility of the system is verified. The sorting system realizes the automatic sorting function of the object and has a good application prospect.

C2F: Coarse-to-Fine Vision Control System for Automated Microassembly

Introduction:In this paper, authors present the development of a completely automated system to perform 3D micromanipulation and microassembly tasks. The microassembly workstation consists of a 3 degree-of-freedom (DOF) MM3A® micromanipulator arm attached to a microgripper, two 2 DOF PI® linear micromotion stages, one optical microscope coupled with a CCD image sensor, and two CMOS cameras for coarse vision.Methods:The whole control strategy is subdivided into sequential vision based routines: manipulator detection and coarse alignment, autofocus and fine alignment of microgripper, target object detection, and performing the required assembly tasks. A section comparing various objective functions useful in the autofocusing regime is included.Results:The control system is built entirely in the image frame, eliminating the need for system calibration, hence improving speed of operation. A micromanipulation experiment performing pick-and-place of a micromesh is illustrated.Conclusion:This demonstrates a three-fold reduction in setup and run time for fundamental micromanipulation tasks, as compared to manual operation. Accuracy, repeatability and reliability of the programmed system is analyzed.

Study on thermodynamic effect of CCD detector irradiated by laser

The damage mechanism of the typical CCD detector irradiated by the Nd:YAG high repetition frequency pulsed laser was analyzed by finite element method. Based on the theory of heat conduction and thermal elasticity, a physical model of the CCD detector irradiated by the repetitive-frequency pulsed laser is established. The nonlinear variation of the material parameters with the temperature and the melting phase transition process are considered. The thermodynamic effects in time domain and space domain of the detector are calculated by finite element method and the damage mechanism of the detector is analyzed. The research results of this paper can provide necessary theoretical basis for laser damage and protection of the CCD image sensor.

43- and 50-Mp High-Performance Interline CCD Image Sensors

This paper describes the design and performance of two new high-resolution interline charge-coupled device image sensors for use in industrial, machine vision, and aerial photography applications. These sensors feature 4.5- $\mu \text{m}$ pixels, 4 outputs, fast dump gate, horizontal lateral overflow drain, and vertical electronic shutter. The 43-Mp sensor has a 35-mm optical format and the 50-Mp sensor has a larger format with a 2.175:1 aspect ratio that matches many modern mobile phone displays. This paper discusses the challenges and solutions to manufacture such large sensors with superior image quality such as uniformity, read noise, dark current, smear, transfer gate blooming, lag, and so on.