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The C10988MA-01 sensor from Hamamatsu Photonics is an ultra-compact spectrometer built with Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) technology. Measuring only 27.6 x 13 x 16.8 mm and weighing just 9 grams, the device is intended to be used in portable and hand-held devices where a standard mini-spectrometer would be too large and consume too much power. [via]
The new device features an aberration-corrected concave grating with a very short focal length and blazed grating profile for high diffraction efficiency. The grating is replicated onto a convex glass lens using nano-print technology. Directly opposite the grating there is a dedicated CMOS silicon image sensor with an on-chip slit. This 75 x 750 µm slit is formed in the CMOS chip using MEMS technology. The distance between the sensor and slit is only 1 mm, and the distance between the grating and the image sensor distance a mere 8.5mm. Thanks to its novel design, the sensor offers a spectral resolution of 14 nm in the wavelength range of 340 to 750 nm, making it suitable for a variety of visible light applications requiring a miniaturized spectrometer head.
Ultra-Compact Spectrometer Sensor Targets Visible Light - [Link]
The LTC6090 is a high voltage precision operational amplifier. The low noise, low bias current input stage is ideal for high gain configurations. The LTC6090 has low input offset voltage, a rail-to-rail output stage, and can be run from a single 140V or split ±70V supplies.
The LTC6090 is internally protected against overtemperature conditions. A thermal warning output, TFLAG, goes active when the die temperature approaches 150°C. The output stage can be turned off with the output disable pin OD. By tying the OD pin to the thermal warning output, the part will disable the output stage when it is out of the safe operating area. These pins easily interface to any logic family.
The LTC6090 is available in an 8-lead SO and 16-lead TSSOP with exposed pad for low thermal resistance.
LTC6090 – 140V CMOS Rail-to-Rail Output, Picoamp Input Current Op Amp - [Link]
Dilshan developed a precision event logger based on the PIC16F73 and some binary ripple counters from the CMOS logic family. The project uses a 2Mhz reference clock, and is capable of measuring events from 0.02 to 6.8 seconds long. [via]
The counter gets activate and deactivate in positive edge of the input signal. Thanks to the wider operating voltage of the CMOS ICs this counter may be able to handle +5V to +15V of input signal. At the end of the counter session system release total tick count to the RS232 interface and it can receive through any serial terminal software. When applying the inputs it is recommended to maintain minimum of 100ms of interval between each session.
Precision event logger measures 0.02 to 6.8 seconds - [Link]
More and more data-intensive applications are running on modern wireless consumer electronic products, and communication channels below 10 GHz, such as WLAN, are confronted with spectrum scarcity. Wireless system designers are therefore compelled to explore higher frequency bands, such as the unlicensed 60 GHz band. This band is available throughout the world and allows multi-Gbps wireless communication over short distances. However, the cost, footprint and power consumption must be drastically reduced to enable deployment of 60 GHz wireless communication technology in portable mass-market products.
An important step towards the deployment of 60 GHz technology is the new prototype transceiver front-end IC developed by Imec and Panasonic that achieves a 7 Gbps data rate over short distances in the four channels specified by the IEEE 802.11ad standard with QAM16 modulation and an error vector management figure better than -17 dB. The transmitter signal path, consisting of a power amplifier and a mixer, consumes 90 mW with 10.2 dBm OP1dB. The receiver signal path, consisting of a low-noise amplifier and a mixer, consumes 35 mW and has a noise figure of 5.5 dB and 30 dB gain. Electrostatic discharge robustness is over 4 kV with a human body model. The compact 0.7 mm³ core area makes the transceiver front-end especially suitable for use in phased arrays. The small area is achieved by using lumped components and very compact millimeter-wave CMOS layout methods. [via]
CMOS Transceiver hits 7 Gbps in 60 GHz Band - [Link]
photo via watterott.com
Ibrahim KAMAL writes:
Today I am going to talk about low cost and effective image processing for very specific embedded applications. I am not talking about robots recognizing their environment or finding their way to a power plug, but rather using small CMOS camera as better sensor. We have used this technology for various clients in our consulting service, so I am not going to get into the very specifics of any of those applications cause it would be a breach to our NDAs. Still, IKALOGIC aims to educate and share knowledge to the world. Considering that, I thought about writing a short tutorial, showing to beginners how to get started in that rather intimidating field.
CMOS camera as a sensor - [Link]
Imec and Genalyte have developed and produced a set of disposable silicon photonics biosensor chips for use in diagnostic and molecular detection equipment. The chips combine standard silicon photonic waveguide technology with bio-compatible modifications and were manufactured using standard microelectronic CMOS fabrication technology. The chips have been tested in the field and proven to meet the functional requirements with high yield.
The high integration level of silicon photonics on the chips enables extensive multiplexed biosensing. Each chip can contain up to 128 ring resonator sensors coated with application-specific chemicals to provide very sensitive molecular detection capability. [via]
Disposable Biosensors Feature Molecular Detection - [Link]
Conventional CMOS image sensors, which are the preferred choice for digital photography in both professional and consumer devices thanks to their low cost and low power consumption, are not suitable for low-light applications such as X-ray or astronomical photography because the large pixel cells necessary to compensate for low light levels do not allow high readout speeds. A new, patented optoelectronic component developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronics eliminates this problem.
Conventional CMOS image sensors use pinned photodiodes (PPDs) to convert the light into electrical signals. However, with pixels above a certain size they cannot support the readout speeds typically needed in low-light applications. To solve this problem, the Fraunhofer researchers developed a new optoelectronic device called a lateral drift field photodetector (LDPD), in which charge carriers are driven to the collection electrode by an electric field at speeds up to 100 times the diffusion rate of charge carriers in PPDs. [via]
High-speed CMOS sensors yield better images - [Link]
redferret.net writes:
For most of us, the threat of radiation poisoning is not something we often think of. However, there is always the possibility that some catastrophic incident will put some of us in danger. Now, I don’t know about you, but I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen my Geiger counter. So how do you tell if the area is unsafe? As it turns out, you can use your iPhone.
Don’t get me wrong, you really shouldn’t trust your phone as a completely reliable source of information regarding radiation levels. However, in a pinch, it can tell you enough to let you know if there is a danger. You see, the CMOS sensor doesn’t just record the light visible to your own eye, it can also capture Gamma and X waves emitted by radioactive sources. With the WikiSensor Dosimeter, you just cover the iPhone’s front camera with black tape, and run the program. The black tape prevents any light from traditional sources from being captured, yet still lets though the waves mentioned above. If these waves are recorded, then the software will let you know, and give you an idea of the risk. If you live in an area where you might be exposed to radiation at some point, this might be worth the $.99 price.
WikiSensor turns your iPhone into a Geiger counter - [Link]
The Si4840 and Si4844 from Silicon Labs are the first CMOS AM/FM/SW radio receiver ICs with analogue tuning and digital display that integrate the complete receiver function from antenna input to audio output. Based on Silicon Labs’ proven and patented digital low intermediate frequency receiver architecture, the Si4840 and Si4844 deliver superior RF performance and interference rejection. The integrated control algorithm provides an easy and reliable control interface while eliminating all of the manually tuned external components used in a traditional receiver. [via]
AM/FM/SW receiver integrated on a single CMOS chip - [Link]
Baolab Microsystems has developed innovative, pure CMOS MEMS devices that use Lorentz force sensors to detect the strength and direction of the Earth’s magnetic field. The new 3D Digital NanoCompass™ technology matches existing performance benchmarks for sensitivity, power consumption and package size at dramatically lower cost. An additional unique feature is autocalibration for consistent accuracy.
The new compass chips utilise Baolab’s NanoEMS™ technology, which allows nanoscale MEMS devices to be fabricated using standard high-volume CMOS lines and fully integrated monolithically with analogue and digital electronics. The MEMS elements are defined within the existing metal interconnect layers on the wafer as part of the normal CMOS production process. Conventional 3D compass devices typically use magnetoresistive materials or Hall-effect devices combined with magnetic field concentrators to detect the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field. [via]
Novel 3D digital MEMS compass fabricated in CMOS - [Link]
