Abstract
Integration of detector arrays and digital CMOS circuitry can confer significant performance improvements on an imaging system. In this paper we present an integrated sensor array based on (Figure 1), micro bolometer (MB) elements deposited on a CMOS substrate containing electronics for random access readout, amplification, gain and offset control and digitization. Such integrated MB arrays are effective components in a novel implementation of an earth-horizon attitude sensor for satellites. The bolometer elements are used to distinguish the earth's thermal IR from the space background. For this application, the reduced detectivity of MB arrays compared with cooled IR detectors can be tolerated. Low mass, enhanced reliability, and low power consumption are gained by using an uncooled IR detector, and by using an integrated circuit design. These considerations are especially important for microsatellites. The low cost per array facilitates the use of multiple arrays, which allows significant flexibility in the optical and systems designs. The integrated chip design allows for random-access readout, on-chip gain and offset compensation and local control of pixel geometry, which contribute to the overall system effectiveness and help to allay any performance reductions that come from reduced detectivity.
