Compact High-Speed Video Camera Using MCMs

Traditionally, the recording of high speed phenomena has required the use of film cameras; though providing very fast frame rates and high resolution, film is bulky, heavy, expensive, and requires considerable processing delay before the results from an event can be viewed. In recent years, advances in solid-state imager design have made high-speed video a viable alternative to film. High speed video, however, is not a fait accompli. The imagers are multi-port chips, with high bandwidth outputs at each port. The analog signal conditioning and digitization stages of the multiple high speed signals occupy a large circuit board area. Also, the digital clocking requires significant amounts of board space. We have confronted these issues in our prototype 640 x 480, 500 frame per second high speed camera. Such cameras are needed in government and industrial applicatons that call for a rugges, small package. Multi-chip modules provide a means to braoden the use of high speed video. During Phase I, we will research the market and cultivate a working relationship with a key customer. The MCM, with a high speed imager and associated multi-port processing and digitization, will be specified and suppliers will be chosen. An initial MCM design will be fabricated. During Phase II, the MCM will be developed and integrated into a high-speed, high-resolution (i.e., 500 @ 1000 fps) digital video camera. Anticipated Benefits: A high-speed video "camcorder" is ideal for acquistion of short time-scale phenomena. Armament research and surveillance are two government appplications; industrial uses will span the spectrum of high speed manufacturing