Photonics Wireless CMOS Image Sensors and Their Advantages

CMOS image sensors are widely used as components in digital cameras, phones, computers, and other commercial or military tools. The sensor pixel arrays and read-out integrated circuits are connected with metal wires, which become the causes of low signal-to-noise ratio under certain lighting conditions, such as long wavelength or low intensity. Microwave photonic CMOS consists of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, and tunnel threshold-less lasers in the drain region, microwave generating diodes also in the same drain region, and photon sensors in the drain, channel, and well regions.

Pixel arrays and ROIC are connected with optical waveguides and microwaves/antennas, without metals. The wireless photonic imaging can be accomplished with ultra-high signal-to-noise ratios and low power, suitable for wireless handheld devices. Manufacturers of cell phones, digital cameras, and military sensors will benefit from this capability, due to reduced noise, low power, and better image quality.

About the presenter
James N. Pan, Ph.D., is a senior principal engineer in the Advanced Technology Laboratory (ATL) of Northrop Grumman Corporation (Linthicum, Maryland, USA). Before joining Northrop Grumman, he spent time working for Semicoa Corporation, Fairchild Semiconductor, IBM, IBM Microelectronics, AMD, Atmel Corporation, and Micron Technology Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Texas at Austin, and doctorate from Purdue University. Pan started American Enterprise and License Company in 2009, has published more than 80 journal and conference papers, and holds 100 patents.