Low-Cost Disposable Imaging Sensors

Tanner Research is experienced in the development of sophisticated imaging devices and sensor systems. In the proposed effort, a low-cost, disposable visible color / NIR sensor node will be realized using a rapid-prototyping approach. Commercial technologies and software development approaches will be combined with compact packaging and highly integrated components to create a low-cost yet highly flexible and powerful imaging sensor node. Integrated imaging devices and illumination sources with sophisticated image processing capabilities will allow substantial reductions in required communications bandwidth and increased operator efficiencies. User interface software for sensor node control will provide increased visual awareness and intuitive methods for directing on-board image processing activities. Software programming interfaces for both on-board sensor control and user interface tools will be provided to ease development, customization, extension and on-going support. Design for manufacturability will be a key element of the design process, and will result in a highly affordable, even disposable imaging device.