Course #04

Hands-on Characterization of Solid-State Image Sensors 

November 25-26, 2010. Barcelona, Spain

INSTRUCTOR
Professor Dr. Albert J. P. Theuwissen, 
Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Harvest Imaging, Belgium

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS 
CMOS image sensors are becoming more and more complicated. In the mid nineties the devices were simple image sensors, but over the recent years they have become complete camera systems. Characterization and evaluation of these highly sophisticated SoC's (system-on-chip) is no longer straightforward. Furthermore the pixels of the sensors are becoming extremely small and their limited size can have negative effects on dynamic range, light sensitivity, noise and speed. In the context of further optimization of the imaging functionality, it is of great importance to have a good understanding of performance-limiting parameters of the system. These can only be revealed by performing dedicated measurements on the image sensors and/or on the complete camera-systems. That is what this course is all about: learning to characterize an imaging system by means of hands-on experience. 

COURSE CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES 
This is an advanced course focussing on the characterization and evaluation of solid-state image sensors and digital cameras. It will be the first course ever in digital imaging that will be almost completely conducted based on hands-on experimental equipment. 
The theoretical background of the measurements will be explained first. The participants will then perform the measurements by means of the hardware and software available in the classroom. To get the best learning effect the maximum amount of participants will be limited to 16.
The following equipment will be available: 
Commercially available cameras (monochrome and colour), light sources, power supplies, and standard software tools to grab images running on laptops. Critical camera performance parameters will be measured. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND 
The course is intended for engineers that have already some experience in the field. It can be regarded as a continuation of Course #13 Digital Imaging: Image Capturing Image Sensors, Technologies and Applications and/or Course #14 Digital Camera Systems.

Thursday

Getting Acquainted
The first session will allow the participants to get familiar with the equipment present in the classroom. The cameras provided are all USB compatible, and are making use of standard software (supplied by the camera manufacturer) to download images into the computer. The complete concept is designed/optimized in such a way that everyone can easily work with it. Number crunching, data plotting, and data extraction will be done by commercially available software tools.
The very first measurements we perform together to become familiar with two important evaluation methods: measuring/calculating temporal noise and measuring/calculating fixed-pattern noise.
After the introductory session, the group of participants will be split in sub-groups to give everyone exposure to the hands-on experience. 

Measurements in Dark
It is astonishing how many parameters of a sensor/camera can be measured without any light input. The photodiodes of the image sensors are collecting charges and in principle it does not matter whether these charges are being generated by photons or whether they come through leakage in the structure. Once a charge packet is collected in a photodiode, it can be used to characterize the imager! 
By means of dedicated dark measurements the following parameters can be evaluated:

• Dark Current Density
• Dark-current Non-uniformities
• Linearity
• Conversion Gain
• Dark Reference Lines/Pixels
• Leaking Pixels
• Temporal Noise
• Dynamic Range

Friday

Measurements with Light
Image sensors and cameras are being developed to convert incoming photons into a measurable quantity. Therefore it is also of great importance to evaluate the light characteristics of the devices. Parameters that can be measured when photons are impinging on the sensor are:

• Light sensitivity
• Light non-uniformities
• Linearity
• Conversion gain
• Blooming characteristics
• Black sun
• Green-green differences
• Reciprocity effect
• Saturation level

Different participant subgroups will work on different set-ups, not necessarily performing the same measurements. However, at the end of the course, everyone will get copies of the outcome of all characterizations performed by the groups.

Regular Course Fee: EUR 1310

Early Registration Course Fee:  EUR 1180
This applies to firm registrations received 2 months before course start. 

University Student and Faculty Rate:
Two university participants are welcome to attend for one course fee if payment is to be made from university funds.

Deliverables:
The course fee covers tuition, course material, and the day conference packages (morning/afternoon refreshments, lunches etc.) paid on your behalf to the course venue. Accommodation is not included.

Payment should be made before course start.