The Skipper CCD-in-CMOS image sensor integrates the non-destructive readout capability of skipper Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) with a high conversion gain pinned photodiode on a CMOS imaging process, while taking advantage of in-pixel signal processing.
We will present the first results of the testing of the first prototype ASIC, fabricated in a commercial 180nm CMOS processes, which integrates a pixel matrix as well as individual test structures. Individual pixels in the test structures of the fabricated devices were instrumented to characterize their charge transfer capability and to study their operation in low readout noise conditions. We were able to operate the pixel in single carrier counting mode with deep sub-electron noise to measure charge packets collected by the photodiode when exposed to low illumination levels. Additionally, we will also report on the status of the custom 65nm ASICs prototypes being developed to achieve high speed, sub-electron noise readout. Work supported by the DOE Office of Science under the Microelectronics Co-Design Research Project “Hybrid Cryogenic Detector Architectures for Sensing and Edge Computing enabled by new Fabrication Processes
The ePix100A camera is a 0.5 megapixel (704 x 768 pixels) camera for low noise x-ray detection applications requiring high spatial and spectral resolution. The camera is built around a hybrid pixel detector consisting of 4 ePix100a ASICs ip-chip bonded to one sensor. The pixels are 50 μm x 50 μm (active sensor size ~ 35:4mm x 38:6 mm), with a noise of ~ 180 eV rms, a range of 100 8 keV photons, and a current frame rate of 240 Hz (with an upgrade path towards ~ 10 kHz). This performance leads to a camera combining a high dynamic range, high signal to noise ratio, high speed and excellent linearity and spectroscopic performance. While the ePix100A ASIC has been developed for pulsed source applications (e.g., free-electron lasers), it performs well with more common sources (e.g., x-ray tubes, synchrotron radiation). Several cameras have been produced and characterized and the results are reported here, along with x-ray imaging applications demonstrating the camera performance.
KEYWORDS: Prototyping, Sensors, Analog electronics, High dynamic range imaging, Liquid crystal lasers, Photons, Cameras, Signal processing, Image resolution, Free electron lasers
ePix10k is a variant of a novel class of integrating pixel ASICs architectures optimized for the processing of signals in second generation LINAC Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-Ray cameras. The ASIC is optimized for high dynamic range application requiring high spatial resolution and fast frame rates. ePix ASICs are based on a common platform composed of a random access analog matrix of pixel with global shutter, fast parallel column readout, and dedicated sigma-delta analog to digital converters per column. The ePix10k variant has 100um×100um pixels arranged in a 176×192 matrix, a resolution of 140e- r.m.s. and a signal range of 3.5pC (10k photons at 8keV). In its final version it will be able to sustain a frame rate of 2kHz. A first prototype has been fabricated and characterized. Performance in terms of noise, linearity, uniformity, cross-talk, together with preliminary measurements with bump bonded sensors are reported here.
ePix100 is the first variant of a novel class of integrating pixel ASICs architectures optimized for the processing of signals in second generation LINAC Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-Ray cameras. ePix100 is optimized for ultra-low noise application requiring high spatial resolution. ePix ASICs are based on a common platform composed of a random access analog matrix of pixel with global shutter, fast parallel column readout, and dedicated sigma-delta analog to digital converters per column. The ePix100 variant has 50μmx50μm pixels arranged in a 352x384 matrix, a resolution of 50e- r.m.s. and a signal range of 35fC (100 photons at 8keV). In its final version it will be able to sustain a frame rate of 1kHz. A first prototype has been fabricated and characterized and the measurement results are reported here.
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