MiSPIA (257646)

  https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/257646

  FP7 (2007-2013)

  Microelectronic Single-Photon 3D Imaging Arrays\nfor low-light high-speed Safety and Security Applications

  Photonics (ICT-2009.3.7)

  optical sensors  ·  microelectronics  ·  photons

  2010-06-01 Start Date (YY-MM-DD)

  2013-12-31 End Date (YY-MM-DD)

  € 3,401,019 Total Cost

  Description

MiSPIA will develop beyond state-of-the-art photonics technology for array imagers of smart-pixels able to detect single photons. Intelligent in-pixel pre-processing will simultaneously provide ultra high sensitivity (single-photon level), very high frame-rate (up to 200,000fps) and advanced multi-spectral (300-900nm) three-dimensional (3D) distance ranging and two-dimensional (2D) imaging of fast moving objects. MiSPIA detectors will be used in two key applications: long-range (200-1,000m) 2D and 3D active identification in low light level surveillance operations; and very fast (over 200fps) short-range (10-50m) 3D monitoring in automotive pre-crash safety systems. Instead of (slow and noisy) CCDs and CMOS active pixels (with poor sensitivity and noisy electronics), MiSPIA will exploit the ultimate performances of truly-single photon detectors: the Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD).MiSPIA imagers will be based on four different SPAD smart-pixels: 'photon-counting' pixels for 2D imaging; LIDAR pixels for 3D direct 'time-of-flight' (dTOF); two different phase-sensitive pixels for 3D indirect time-of-flight (iTOF) depth acquisitions. Full-size imager chips will be manufactured, characterized and eventually integrated into two 3D ranging cameras deployed into the two end-users applications for validation.MiSPIA technologies will be both highly-advanced and cost-effective: a high-voltage 0.35µm CMOS processing for front-side illuminated imagers; and a new flipped-chip Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) CMOS technology for back-side illuminated imagers. Both will prove beyond state-of-the art co-integration of photonic SPAD detectors and CMOS microelectronics for intelligent and dense 2D imaging and 3D ranging high-performance cameras. Such cameras will provide imaging at the quantum limit and on-chip pre-processing at the most effective speed at a drastic reduction of manufacturing costs, down to 5€ per imager chip.The developments of the MiSPIA Project will be published on the official website www.mispia.eu.

  Complicit Organisations

1 Israeli organisation participates in MiSPIA.