Effect of pixel active area shape on imaging quality of CMOS active pixel sensor

Hong Fan; Wujun Xu; Chengliang Wang

doi:10.1117/12.757477

24 January 2008 Effect of pixel active area shape on imaging quality of CMOS active pixel sensor

Hong Fan, Wujun Xu, Chengliang Wang

Proceedings Volume 6829, Advanced Materials and Devices for Sensing and Imaging III; 68291S (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.757477
Event: Photonics Asia 2007, 2007, Beijing, China

Abstract

The CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) technology is of interest for space-borne instruments, such as low power imagers for micro-spacecraft, star trackers and machine vision for space micro-rovers. It is significant to evaluate image quality after the performance parameters of imaging system using CMOS APS are validated. The most fundamental of evaluating imaging quality is modulation transfer function (MTF). The system MTF is the multiplication of optics transfer function, detector transfer function and electronics transfer function. In CMOS APS arrays, the pixel area is constructed of two functional parts. The first part, which has a certain geometrical shape, is the sensing element itself: the active area that absorbs the illumination energy within it and turns that energy into charge carriers. The second part is the control circuitry required for readout of this charge. The ratio between the active area and the total pixel area is referred to as the fill factor (FF), which in APS is less than 100% (in contrast to CCDs where the FF can approach 100%). The preferred shape of the pixel active area is a square. However, designing the active area as a square can reduce the FF. Since the FF influences the signal and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), it is preferred to keep it as high as possible. Theoretical analysis of the MTF for the active area shape is performed for an L shaped active area (most commonly used). And the effects of pixel active area shapes on imaging quality of CMOS active pixel sensor are analyzed.

Citation Download Citation

Hong Fan, Wujun Xu, and Chengliang Wang "Effect of pixel active area shape on imaging quality of CMOS active pixel sensor", Proc. SPIE 6829, Advanced Materials and Devices for Sensing and Imaging III, 68291S (24 January 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.757477

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KEYWORDS

Modulation transfer functions

Sensors

Imaging systems

Active sensors

Image quality

CMOS sensors

Charge-coupled devices

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