INTELLIGENTSOI CMOS VISION-SYSTEM-ON-A-CHIP (VSOC) FOR SPACE OPERATIONS

In this Phase I SBIR effort, Voxtel Inc. proposes to optimize a high-performance,low power, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS, intelligent vision-system-on-a-chip (VSOC) that monolithically integrates, without compromising the optimal design and processingof any of its features, nearly ideal high-density,UV to NIR response photodetectors, in-pixel processing, thin film analog spatial/temporal processing, and mixed-signal in-pixel and on-chip circuitry. Imaging will be accomplished by backside thinning andillumination through the bulk substrate, allowing high-density integrated circuits to be integrated over 100% of the epitaxial silicon. In addition to SOI's inherent radiation hardness, it is lower power (<1.2V), by providing isolation allows greatertransistor density, readily handle mixed signals, and is thus well suited for realizing a high level of functionality system-on-a-chip. A robust, small sized, low power, and highly functional imager benefits commercial satellite star trackers, autonomousnavigation systems, security and surveillance, medical imaging, biometric face identification, remote sensing, night vision, border patrol, search and rescue, microscopy, industrial inspection, and astronomy applications.