Thin-film short-wave-infrared image sensor
Imec has developed a prototype high-resolution short-wave-infrared (SWIR) image sensor with a record small pixel pitch of 1.82 µm.
The sensor is based on a thin-film photodetector that is monolithically integrated on a custom Si-CMOS readout circuit. A fab-compatible process flow paves the way to high-throughput, wafer-level manufacturing.
The technology that imec has presented largely exceeds the capabilities of today's InGaAs-based SWIR imagers in terms of pixel pitch and resolution, and offers disruptive cost and form factor potential. New applications are enabled even in cost-sensitive domains, such as in industrial machine vision, smart agriculture, automotive, surveillance, life sciences and consumer electronics.