Calibration-based minimalistic multi-exposure digital sensor camera robust linear high dynamic range enhancement technique demonstration

Demonstrated for a digital image sensor-based camera is a calibration target optimized method for finding the Camera Response Function (CRF). The proposed method uses localized known target zone pixel outputs spatial averaging and histogram analysis for saturated pixel detection. Using the proposed CRF generation method with a 87 dB High Dynamic Range (HDR) silicon CMOS image sensor camera viewing a 90 dB HDR calibration target, experimentally produced is a non-linear CRF with a limited 40 dB linear CRF zone. Next, a 78 dB test target is deployed to test the camera with this measured CRF and its restricted 40 dB zone. By engaging the proposed minimal exposures, weighting free, multi-exposure imaging method with 2 images, demonstrated is a highly robust recovery of the test target. In addition, the 78 dB test target recovery with 16 individual DR value patches stays robust over a factor of 20 change in test target illumination lighting. In comparison, a non-robust test target image recovery is produced by 5 leading prior-art multi-exposure HDR recovery algorithms using 16 images having 16 different exposure times, with each consecutive image having a sensor dwell time increasing by a factor of 2. Further validation of the proposed HDR image recovery method is provided using two additional experiments, the first using a 78 dB calibrated target combined with a natural indoor scene to form a hybrid design target and a second experiment using an uncalibrated indoor natural scene. The proposed technique applies to all digital image sensor-based cameras having exposure time and illumination controls. In addition, the proposed methods apply to various sensor technologies, spectral bands, and imaging applications

Temperature sensors in SOI CMOS for high temperature applications

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

A Low-Power Silicon-Photomultiplier Readout ASIC for the CALICE Analog Hadronic Calorimeter

The future e + e − collider experiments, such as the international linear collider, provide precise measurements of the heavy bosons and serve as excellent tests of the underlying fundamental physics. To reconstruct these bosons with an unprecedented resolution from their multi-jet final states, a detector system employing the particle flow approach has been proposed, requesting calorimeters with imaging capabilities. The analog hadron calorimeter based on the SiPM-on-tile technology is one of the highly granular candidates of the imaging calorimeters. To achieve the compactness, the silicon-photomultiplier (SiPM) readout electronics require a low-power monolithic solution. This thesis presents the design of such an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for the charge and timing readout of the SiPMs. The ASIC provides precise charge measurement over a large dynamic range with auto-triggering and local zero-suppression functionalities. The charge and timing information are digitized using channel-wise analog-to-digital and time-to-digital converters, providing a fully integrated solution for the SiPM readout. Dedicated to the analog hadron calorimeter, the power-pulsing technique is applied to the full chip to meet the stringent power consumption requirement. This work also initializes the commissioning of the calorimeter layer with the use of the designed ASIC. An automatic calibration procedure has been developed to optimized the configuration settings for the chip. The new calorimeter base unit with the designed ASIC has been produced and its functionality has been tested

Photodetectors

In this book some recent advances in development of photodetectors and photodetection systems for specific applications are included. In the first section of the book nine different types of photodetectors and their characteristics are presented. Next, some theoretical aspects and simulations are discussed. The last eight chapters are devoted to the development of photodetection systems for imaging, particle size analysis, transfers of time, measurement of vibrations, magnetic field, polarization of light, and particle energy. The book is addressed to students, engineers, and researchers working in the field of photonics and advanced technologies

Low Power Memory/Memristor Devices and Systems

This reprint focusses on achieving low-power computation using memristive devices. The topic was designed as a convenient reference point: it contains a mix of techniques starting from the fundamental manufacturing of memristive devices all the way to applications such as physically unclonable functions, and also covers perspectives on, e.g., in-memory computing, which is inextricably linked with emerging memory devices such as memristors. Finally, the reprint contains a few articles representing how other communities (from typical CMOS design to photonics) are fighting on their own fronts in the quest towards low-power computation, as a comparison with the memristor literature. We hope that readers will enjoy discovering the articles within

Optical and magnetic tweezers for applications in single-molecule biophysics and nanotechnology

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada. Fecha de lectura: 22-01-201

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is currently relatively wide scientific area which has been constantly bringing innovations with an objective to support and improve all areas of medicine such as therapy, diagnostics and rehabilitation. It holds a strong position also in natural and biological sciences. In the terms of application, biomedical engineering is present at almost all technical universities where some of them are targeted for the research and development in this area. The presented book brings chosen outputs and results of research and development tasks, often supported by important world or European framework programs or grant agencies. The knowledge and findings from the area of biomaterials, bioelectronics, bioinformatics, biomedical devices and tools or computer support in the processes of diagnostics and therapy are defined in a way that they bring both basic information to a reader and also specific outputs with a possible further use in research and development

Optical Gas Sensing: Media, Mechanisms and Applications

Optical gas sensing is one of the fastest developing research areas in laser spectroscopy. Continuous development of new coherent light sources operating especially in the Mid-IR spectral band (QCL—Quantum Cascade Lasers, ICL—Interband Cascade Lasers, OPO—Optical Parametric Oscillator, DFG—Difference Frequency Generation, optical frequency combs, etc.) stimulates new, sophisticated methods and technological solutions in this area. The development of clever techniques in gas detection based on new mechanisms of sensing (photoacoustic, photothermal, dispersion, etc.) supported by advanced applied electronics and huge progress in signal processing allows us to introduce more sensitive, broader-band and miniaturized optical sensors. Additionally, the substantial development of fast and sensitive photodetectors in MIR and FIR is of great support to progress in gas sensing. Recent material and technological progress in the development of hollow-core optical fibers allowing low-loss transmission of light in both Near- and Mid-IR has opened a new route for obtaining the low-volume, long optical paths that are so strongly required in laser-based gas sensors, leading to the development of a novel branch of laser-based gas detectors. This Special Issue summarizes the most recent progress in the development of optical sensors utilizing novel materials and laser-based gas sensing techniques