Space optical instruments optimisation thanks to CMOS image sensor technology

Today, both CCD and CMOS sensors can be envisaged for nearly all visible sensors and instruments designed for space needs. Indeed, detectors built with both technologies allow excellent electro-optics performances to be reached, the selection of the most adequate device being driven by their functional and technological features and limits. The first part of the paper presents electro-optics characterisation results of CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) built with an optimised CMOS process, demonstrating the large improvements of CIS electro-optics performances. The second part reviews the advantages of CMOS technology for space applications, illustrated by examples of CIS developments performed by EADS Astrium and Supaéro/CIMI for current and short term coming space programs

High performances monolithic CMOS detectors for space applications

During the last 10 years, research about CMOS image sensors (also called APS -Active Pixel Sensors) has been intensively carried out, in order to offer an alternative to CCDs as image sensors. This is particularly the case for space applications as CMOS image sensors feature characteristics which are obviously of interest for flight hardware: parallel or semi-parallel architecture, on chip control and processing electronics, low power dissipation, high level ofradiation tolerance... Many image sensor companies, institutes and laboratories have demonstrated the compatibility of CMOS image sensors with consumer applications: micro-cameras, video-conferencing, digital-still cameras. And recent designs have shown that APS is getting closer to the CCD in terms ofperformance level. However, the large majority ofthe existing products do not offer the specific features which are required for many space applications. ASTRI1JM and SUPAERO/CIMI have decided to work together in view of developing CMOS image sensors dedicated to space business. After a brief presentation of the team organisation for space image sensor design and production, the latest results of a high performances 512x512 pixels CMOS device characterisation are presented with emphasis on the achieved electro-optical performance. Finally, the on going and short-term coming activities of the team are discussed

Development of high-performances monolithic CMOS detectors for space applications

This paper describes the development of a 750x750 pixels CMOS image sensor for star tracker applications. A first demonstrator of such a star tracker called SSM star tracker built around a 512x512 detector has been recently developed and proves the feasibility of such instrument. In order to take fully advantage of the CMOS image sensor step, the 750x750 device called SSM CMOS detector which will take part of the final star tracker, can be considered as a major technical breakthrough that gives a decisive advantage in terms of on satellite implementation cost and flexibility (sensor mass and power consumption minimisation, electronics and architecture flexibility). Indeed, built using the 0.5μm Alcatel Microelectronics standard CMOS technology, the SSM CMOS detector will feature on-chip temperature sensor and on-chip sequencer. In order to evaluate the radiation tolerance of such manufacturing technology, a radiation campaign that contains studies of total dose and latch-up effects has been led on a specific test vehicle

Research-grade CMOS image sensors for remote sensing applications

Imaging detectors are key elements for optical instruments and sensors on board space missions dedicated to Earth observation (high resolution imaging, atmosphere spectroscopy...), Solar System exploration (micro cameras, guidance for autonomous vehicle...) and Universe observation (space telescope focal planes, guiding sensors...). This market has been dominated by CCD technology for long. Since the mid-90s, CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) have been competing with CCDs for consumer domains (webcams, cell phones, digital cameras...). Featuring significant advantages over CCD sensors for space applications (lower power consumption, smaller system size, better radiations behaviour...), CMOS technology is also expanding in this field, justifying specific R&D and development programs funded by national and European space agencies (mainly CNES, DGA and ESA). All along the 90s and thanks to their increasingly improving performances, CIS have started to be successfully used for more and more demanding space applications, from vision and control functions requiring low-level performances to guidance applications requiring medium-level performances. Recent technology improvements have made possible the manufacturing of research-grade CIS that are able to compete with CCDs in the high-performances arena. After an introduction outlining the growing interest of optical instruments designers for CMOS image sensors, this paper will present the existing and foreseen ways to reach high-level electro-optics performances for CIS. The developments and performances of CIS prototypes built using an imaging CMOS process will be presented in the corresponding section

Smart CMOS image sensor for lightning detection and imaging

We present a CMOS image sensor dedicated to lightning detection and imaging. The detector has been designed to evaluate the potentiality of an on-chip lightning detection solution based on a smart sensor. This evaluation is performed in the frame of the predevelopment phase of the lightning detector that will be implemented in the Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite for the European Space Agency. The lightning detection process is performed by a smart detector combining an in-pixel frame-to-frame difference comparison with an adjustable threshold and on-chip digital processing allowing an efficient localization of a faint lightning pulse on the entire large format array at a frequency of 1 kHz. A CMOS prototype sensor with a 256×256 pixel array and a 60 μm pixel pitch has been fabricated using a 0.35 μm 2P 5M technology and tested to validate the selected detection approach

CMOS Image Sensor with on-chip Intelligence for Lightning Detection and Imaging

We present A CMOS image sensor dedicated to lightning detection and imaging. The detector has been designed for the pre-development phase of the lightning detector that will be implemented in Meteosat Third Generation Imager (MTG-I) satellite for European Space Agency (ESA). The lightning detection process (Patent applied) is performed by a smart detector combining on in-pixel frame to frame difference comparison with an adjustable threshold and onchip digital processing allowing an efficient localization of faint lightning pulse on the entire large format array at 1 kHz. A CMOS prototype sensor with a 256x256 pixel array and 60μm pixel pitch has been fabricated using a 0.35μm 2P 5M technology and tested to validate the selected detection approach. OCIS codes: (040.6070 ) Solid state detectors; (250.3140) Integrated optoelectronic circuits; (280.4788) Optical sensing and sensors; (110.2970) Image detection systems

Venezuela : centralisme, régionalisme et pouvoir local

Au moment où va s'ouvrir au Venezuela une nouvelle période présidentielle, avec l'élection en décembre 1988 de M. Carlos Andrée Pérez, candidat du Parti « Action Démocratique » et qui fut déjà président (1974-1979), la double question de la démocratisation et de la décentralisation est plus que jamais d'actualité. Bien que toujours au premier rang des pays d'Amérique latine pour le revenu per capita, le Venezuela est durement frappé par la double crise de l'endettement et de la baisse des prix du pétrole. À une période de très grands projets de développement où l'État Providence redistribuait la rente pétrolière avec une part pour chacune des régions, a succédé une période de gestion de la crise et de remise en cause de la planification régionale. L'ouvrage coordonné par Jean Revel-Mouroz vise à éclairer ce moment clé des années quatre-vingt, où le discours sur la décentralisation se généralise - non sans ambiguïtés - et où les pouvoirs locaux et leurs assises territoriales se recomposent sous l'impact de la crise économique, sociale, politique. L'ouvrage est l'aboutissement de recherches collectives sur les territoires et les pouvoirs locaux en Amérique latine, avec une approche pluridisciplinaire ; il réunit en effet une dizaine d'auteurs géographes, historiens, juristes, urbanistes. Il résulte enfin d'une coopération entre chercheurs français et vénézuéliens, soutenue tant par le CNRS que par la coopération scientifique des Affaires étrangères, avec le CREDAL comme opérateur pour la partie française

Café et politiques

Ce numéro des Cahiers d’Outre-mer vient en complément du numéro 180 de la revue Études rurales (2008) sur « Cafés et caféiers : singularités et universalité d’une production mondialisée », et veut mettre un point de suspension au projet entrepris depuis bientôt vingt ans par le groupe MOCA (Montagnes et Cafés) et dont l’objectif initial était, après la suppression de l’accord de l’Organisation Internationale du Café (OIC) en juillet 1989, d’analyser la façon dont les producteurs réagissaient à la libéralisation des filières, au caractère erratique de l’évolution des cours mondiaux et globalement à une crise profonde des systèmes de production et des systèmes d’encadrement. Cette crise n’est pas la première qu’ait connue le monde du café mais son extrême gravité a marqué durablement le secteur de la production familiale et ses conséquences structurelles sur le long terme restent encore largement à évaluer. Certes les situations sont très contrastées, d’un continent à l’autre en particulier, et sans doute la crise n’a fait que les accentuer : ainsi d’un côté, en Amérique latine comme le souligne ici Jean-Christian Tulet, la crise « n’a pas provoqué de situation réellement nouvelle », alors que, d’un autre, l’Afrique, il semble bien qu’elle marque la fin des modèles colonial et néocolonial de développement

A Climate Observatory in South West Indian Ocean: The Maïdo Observatory in La Réunion. Current achievements and Future Prospects

International audienceObservatories of the climate system are essential to assess future climate predictions that are central and fundamental requirements for determining future mitigation strategies. such observing platforms are very few ones in the tropical southern hemisphere. Cnrs, Université de la réunion, région réunion and the european FeDer program support together the construction of a high- altitude observatory which is operational since October 2012 in La Réunion (South West Indian Ocean, 2160 m asl, latitude 21°S, longitude 55°E). The Maïdo observatory takes over from its predecessor programs at sea level over the island who started long-term observation data of atmospheric chemical composition since 1994. the Maïdo observatory is an ideal platform to sample the atmosphere with different techniques (in-situ analysers, radiosounding, passive and active remote sensing) and to record surface measurements and vertical profiles from ground to the mesosphere over a subtropical latitude band poorly sampled by other international programs. The Maïdo observatory hosts lidars, one UV spectrometer, one radiosonding station, Ftir spectrometers, microwave radiometers, one lightning antenna, cameras, one Gnss station, microbarometers, etc. these devices sample many atmospheric parameters (e.g., meteorological parameters, reactive and greenhouse gases, aerosols, lightning and transient luminous events, infrasounds, etc). part of this very extensive range of instruments is approved and belongs to international networks like nDaCC (network for the Detection of atmospheric Composition Change), sHaDOZ (southern Hemisphere aDditional OZonesondes), tCCOn (total Carbon Column Observing network), and WWLLN (World Wide Lightning Location Network). in-situ analysers regroup measurements of reactive and greenhouse gases, and aerosols measurements approved by or applying to networks like GAW/WMO (Global Atmospheric Watching / World Meteorological Organization), iCOs (integrated Carbon Observing system). The Maïdo observatory is currently the only way to provide regular remote and in-situ atmospheric observations at subtropical latitudes and at high resolutions (seconds in time, few tenths of meters vertically) over a marine-remote region poorly sampled by other programs. it provides data for users in science and policy including air quality forecasting, verification of CO2 emissions and Kyoto monitoring, numerical weather prediction, and validation of global chemical transport model, global climate chemical model and satellite products. since its participation in on-going european projects (nOrs, aCtris-2, arise-2), and thanks to the start of delivery of data in near real time, the Maïdo observatory will largely contribute to the Copernicus atmosphere Monitoring services (CaMs). the Maïdo observatory is open to transnational access thanks to its participation in european programmes like aCtris-2 and enVriplus. this presentation will give an overview of results achieved so far and a number of highlights to illustrate the promise Maïdo observatory data hold for the future, allowing new applications and analysis for a broad community of users