Design of a 128x128 ROIC Array for Development of Uncooled 2.6 μm-wavelength SWIR Imaging Camera

Min-Jun Park; Ji-Yeon Jeon; Sang-Jun Lee; Hyeon-June Kim

doi:10.23075/jicas.2024.10.2.003

Min-Jun Park Seoul National University of Science and Technology
Ji-Yeon Jeon Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Sang-Jun Lee Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Hyeon-June Kim Seoul National University of Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23075/jicas.2024.10.2.003

Keywords: Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Imaging, Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC), CMOS imager sensor (CIS), Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) Detector

Abstract

This paper details the development and extensive silicon-level verification of a 128 × 128 readout integrated circuit (ROIC) tailored for uncooled short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging cameras, which operate at a 2.6 μm wavelength. We conducted silicon-level verification of the developed ROIC, enabling a detailed analysis of various performance aspects. This evaluation will help us identify potential explore for further improvements, significantly advancing SWIR imaging camera systems. Our goal is to gain a deeper understanding of performance dynamics to enhance operational efficiency and image quality. The prototype ROIC was manufactured using a 0.18-μm 1P6M CMOS process, featuring an effective pixel resolution of 128 (H) × 128 (V), specifically designed for InGaAs FPAs. The prototype consumes 42.25 mW of power and achieves a frame rate of 390 frames per second.

Author Biographies

Min-Jun Park, Seoul National University of Science and Technology

Min-Jun Park received the B.S. degree from the Division of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineering, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, South Korea, in 2023. He is currently pursuing a combined M.S./Ph.D. degree with the Department of Semiconductor Engineering at the Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea. His current research interests include CMOS image sensor systems for machine vision and infrared imaging systems.

Ji-Yeon Jeon, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science

Ji-yeon Jeon received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electronics engineering from the Sejong University, Seoul, Korea, in 2014, 2016, 2021, respectively. She worked at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science as a research student from 2014 to 2021, and joined as a postdoctoral researcher in 2021, where she is currently working. Her research interests include the fabrication of infrared imaging devices using III-V compound semiconductor materials, the fabrication of hyperspectral filters, and the realization of multifunctional infrared imaging.

Sang-Jun Lee, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science

Sang-Jun Lee received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the Kyunghee University, Suwon, South Korea, in 1995, 1997, and 2004, respectively. He served as a Visiting Researcher at the Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, in 2005, 2006, and 2008. Currently, he holds positions as a Principal Research Scientist at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, South Korea, and as a Professor at the University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea. His research interests include the epitaxial growth, fabrication and characterization for the quantum-structure-based infrared sensors, the compound semiconductor based solar cell, and the application of the plasmonics to a specific infrared sensor.

Hyeon-June Kim, Seoul National University of Science and Technology

Hyeon-June Kim received the B.S. degree from the Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, South Korea, in 2010, and an M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea, in 2012 and 2017, respectively. In 2017, he joined SK Hynix, Icheon, South Korea, where he was worked on the product development of commercial CISs. From 2020 to 2023, he was with the Department of Electronics Engineering, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, South Korea, as an assistant professor. Since 2023, he has been with the Department of Semiconductor Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea, where he is currently an assistant professor. His current research interests include low-power mixed-signal ICs, RF ICs, CMOS image sensors, neuromorphic sensors, and object detection sensor systems.

Homepage : https://issl.seoultech.ac.kr/