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“Integrated Image Sensors” (CIMI) scientific group

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The “Integrated Image Sensors” (CIMI) scientific group, develops and characterizes active-pixel image sensors (CMOS Image Sensors (CIS)) on silicon for visible and infrared radiation.

The CIMI group’s research challenges and objectives address the need to integrate, miniaturise and improve the performance of image sensors.

These are the key components of cameras, vision systems for space instruments or imaging systems hardened against ionising radiation.

A CIS detector consists essentially of a matrix of pixels to recover a voltage value proportional to the photons detected, a readout circuit to process the voltage values of all the pixels and decoders to address the pixels.

We are cooperating with :

  • with Airbus Defence & Space to develop image sensors and space instruments since 1994 (CRISTAL corporate chair established in 2009).
  • with CEA-DAM since 2010 (joint research team since 2012) on the study of the vulnerability of imagers in severe radiative (nuclear) environments.
  • with CNES as part of R&D projects since 2002.
  • with STMicroelectronics on R&D projects since 2005
  • with Thales Alenia Space to develop image sensors (corporate chair established in 2015).

Our research themes

The CIMI group focuses its work on four main themes:

  • Physics: nano-/microelectronics / integrated circuits / physics of semiconductor devices / physics of photodetection.
  • Development: study and development of image sensors on silicon for visible and infrared radiation.
  • Radiation: effects of space and nuclear radiation on image sensors and hardening by design.
  • Cryogenics: electronics at cryogenic temperature.

Our research and development

In collaboration with manufacturers

  • A CIMI detector on the Copernicus satellite for the LSTM (Land Surface Temperature Monitoring) mission, to be designed in 2021.
  • A CIMI detector on the GEO-KOMPSAT-2B (Geostationary Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-2) satellite, designed in 2014.
  • A CIMI detector on the Sentinel 2-A and 2-B earth observation satellites, designed in 2011.
  • A CIMI detector to establish an optical link, via the atmosphere, between an airborne carrier representative of future UAVs and ESA's ARTEMIS geostationary satellite, designed in 2006.
  • A CIMI detector in the GEO-KOMPSAT-1 (Geostationary - Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-1) or COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite) satellite, designed in 2005.

The optical link between an aircraft and a satellite is a world first. An APS (Active Pixel Sensor) in space is a world first for the CIMI sensor in the GEO-KOMPSAT-1 satellite, which was positioned in geostationary orbit in 2010.

  • A CIMI detector hardened to ionising radiation (above 1 MGy) for in situ characterisation of nuclear waste, designed in 2020.
  • A CIMI detector hardened to ionising radiation (above 1 MGy) for remote vision and inspection during remote handling operations of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), designed in 2019.

As far as the ITER reactor is concerned, the CIMI detector is capable of obtaining good quality images after 1MGy of radiation. This is a world first!

Our research projects

  • An image sensor contributing to the development of ITER

The FURHI_VGA detector is a 10-bit digital colour image sensor in VGA format (contract in partnership with Fusion For Energy (F4E)). This detector is based on CMOS image sensors (CIS), for remote vision and inspection during the remote handling operations of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). F4E is responsible to the European Union (EU) for ITER, the world's largest scientific partnership to demonstrate that fusion is a viable and sustainable energy source.

ITER is a civil nuclear fusion research reactor project located in Cadarache (Bouches-du-Rhône). The research project is part of a long-term approach aimed at the industrialisation of nuclear fusion.

The FURHI_VGA detector is a radiation-resistant 10-bit digital VGA colour image sensor.

  • An image sensor on the GEO-KOMPSAT-2B (Geostationary - Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-2) satellite

The LARGO7M detector is a 7 million pixel image sensor that provides 2500km x 2500km images centred on South Korea with a resolution of 250m in different spectral bands (colours) from 370nm to 900nm. It enables short-term changes in the coastal environment around Korea to be observed, quantified and predicted. The GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellite was launched into orbit on 18 February 2020.

Mission lifetime: 10 years
Position: Geostationary orbit, 35,786 km above the Earth.
Spectral bands: 12 bands in the visible spectrum.
Ground resolution: 250m x 250m -over Korea.
Target area: 2500km x 2500km

The image sensor is integrated by ADS with its proximity electronics and then placed in the telescope. A filter wheel selects the 12 spectral bands by placing a coloured filter in front of the 7 million pixel image sensor.

  • An image detector in the COMS satellite (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite)

The COBRA2M detector is a 2 million pixel image sensor that provides 2500km x 2500km images centred on South Korea with a resolution of 500m in 8 different spectral bands (colours) from 400nm to 900nm. It is used to observe, quantify and predict short-term changes in the coastal environment around Korea. The COMS satellite was launched into orbit on 27 June 2010.

Mission lifetime: 7 years
Position: Geostationary orbit, 35,786 km above the Earth.
Spectral bands: 8 bands in the visible spectrum.
Ground resolution: 500m x 500m above Korea.
Target area: 2500km x 2500km

The image sensor is integrated by ADS with its proximity electronics and then placed in the telescope. A filter wheel selects the 8 spectral bands by placing a coloured filter in front of the 2 million pixel image sensor.

  • An image detector in the SENTINEL 2A and 2B satellites

The VNIR S2 detector is a low-noise multi-array image sensor (contract in partnership with ADS and ESA). This sensor is on board two Sentinel 2 satellites, which observe the whole of the Earth's surface every 10 days, with a resolution of 10 m to 60 m, in 13 spectral bands ranging from the visible to the mid-infrared.

The data is mainly used in the fields of agriculture, forestry, land use, habitat characterisation and biodiversity. They are also used to observe and prevent natural disasters, such as floods, volcanic eruptions, subsidence and landslides. The Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B satellites were launched into orbit on 23 June 2015 and 7 March 2017 respectively.

Mission lifetime: 7.25 years for each satellite over a 20-year period.
Principle of the instrument: Pushbroom.
Position : Two identical satellites operating simultaneously, in phase at 180° to each other, in a sun-synchronous orbit at an average altitude of 786 km.

Repetition cycle: 5 days at the equator, using the full configuration of the two-satellite constellation and in cloud-free conditions.
Swath width: 290 km.
Spectral bands: 13 spectral bands, ranging from visible and near-infrared to infrared.
Ground resolution: 10, 20, 60 metres.

There are 12 elementary sensors per focal plane in each satellite.

  • An image detector in an aircraft to establish an optical link with the ARTEMIS geostationary satellite.

The LOLA (Liaison Optique Laser Aéroportée) project has established an optical link, via the atmosphere, between a Mystère XX aircraft and ESA's ARTEMIS geostationary satellite (prime contractor ADS). The APS 750 FAST CMOS sensor detects and tracks the satellite with a low level of received optical power. The wavelength of the communication beam is 850nm.

The physics of photodetection involves understanding and modelling, among other things:

  • Charge generation in silicon
  • The transfer of charges to the collection point (the photodiode), and the control of collection paths to avoid crosstalk
  • The origin of the dark current in an attempt to reduce it
  • How to design a photodiode, taking into account the materials used, in order to maximise its sensitivity, reduce the dark current and maximise its total collection capacity, etc.

The means of understanding these phenomena, and even predicting them, are analytical modelling, physical mesh simulation (TCAD), and above all comparison with experimental data obtained using test structures or complete imagers.

  • Optical nanostructures and CMOS image sensors: Improving photodetection or functionalities (spectral filters, polarisation) using nanostructures integrated directly into each pixel. The structures are either integrated into the production flow or transferred to the top of the sensor.
  • Methods used : Electromagnetic modelling using coupled waves and finite differences (Meep, Lumerical FDTD).
  • Examples of integrated planar microlenses

Research linked to cryogenic activities covers several areas:

  • Study of photodetection mechanisms for imagers used at very low temperatures (down to 80K) in the visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) wavelength ranges.
  • Study of innovative readout chains for extracting information from cooled imagers (ROIC)
  • Extraction of physical models (physical simulation of semiconductors, TCAD) and electrical models (electrical simulation) of elementary microelectronic devices (MOSFET transistors, diodes, etc.).
  • Development and optimisation of cryogenic temperature measurement methods (from 10K to 300K)

Our partners

Our design and measurement resources

  • Linux workstations for circuit design.
  • Word generators, low-noise power supplies, arbitrary signal generators, etc.
  • Calibrated electrical (oscilloscopes, logic analysers) and optical (power meter, spectroradiometer) analysis instruments.
  • Transportable characterisation benches for characterisation needs on external sites.
  • Electrical measurement equipment for basic boxed devices (from 300K to 10K).
  • Highly uniform and stable optical sources.
  • Two monochromators for fine analysis of spectral sensitivity.
  • Thermal chambers for temperature studies.
  • Motorised translation stages for image quality measurements.
  • Microscopes for observing circuits.
  • A cryostat capable of holding complete imaging components and readout circuits for electrical and dark testing (from 300K to 80K).
  • A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for topographic analysis (observation of µlenses, cross-sectional views, etc.) and for extracting physical parameters using EBIC.
  • A Scanning Near field Optical Microscope (SNOM) and an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to measure topography and intra-pixel sensitivity.
  • A 350kV X-ray irradiator.
  • A low-frequency noise characterisation bench capable of operating in a cryogenic environment.
  • An annealing furnace.
  • Two parametric analysers for semiconductor devices.
  • An under-tip tester for measuring electrical parameters (leakage current, noise, capacitance, etc.) of unboxed imager structures.
  • An under-tip tester in a cryogenic environment (Cryo tester from 300K to 80K) for measuring electrical parameters of elementary microelectronic devices (from bare circuits to 8″ wafers).

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Vincent GOIFFON
Vincent GOIFFON

Head of CIMI Group

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