CMOS APS Camera with Electronic Stabilization

The problem to be addressed in this work is the stabilization and deblurring of electronic images obtained from moving platforms. The recent development of the CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) by the proposers during their former employment at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has, for the first time, permitted large scale integration of supporting circuitry and smart camera functions on the same chip as a high performance image sensor. Furthermore, the random access mode of pixel readout enabled by the APS permits readout of a moving window of interest. Moving this window in retro-grade synchronicity with platform motion can permit the electronic stabilization and deblurring of the imagery. Thus, there exists an opportunity to develop a highly compact electronically stabilized camera that can be mass produced at an affordable cost. In Phase I, an electronically stabilized camera system will be defined and requirements identified. The majority of the effort will be in the design of a CMOS APS image sensor chip with on-chip ADC and a motion control interface for the readout window. An initial design for the camera system including optics and mechanical housing will be performed. This work will create foundation for Phase II in which the CMOS APS image sensor will be fabricated and integrated into a prototype camera system demonstration.