Prototype ASIC for NIR Large Format Detector Array

 
Mercury cadmium telluride has proved itself as one of the materials of choice for infrared detectors in the short and medium wave regions of the spectrum. A wide range of device designs are available with varying parameters and of varying sizes. Space missions are utilising these devices but studies of future requirements have identified a need for compact, high-performance control and read-out electronics, especially considering increased number of outputs from detectors and focal planes.

Objective(s)
The aim of the activity is to design, manufacture and characterise a control ASIC for CMOS detectors, in particular operating in the NIR waveband and at cryogenic temperatures. The ASIC should provide a programmable clock sequencer, bias voltage generation, video channel processing and digitization.

Achievements and status
The ASIC development was completed in two steps . The initial ASIC design was fully functional providing all the required blocks of the design, but suffered from excess noise in the video chain. A design iteration was successfully undertaken and the NIRCA 1.1 ASIC now provides full control and 4-channel data read-out for NIR (and other) CMOS image sensors.

Benefits
A control ASIC providing programmable clock sequencer, programmable bias voltages and 4-channel 3MHz video readout with 12-bit resolution is now available.
A datasheet is available upon request directly from Ideas (IDE8411).

Next steps
Radiation tests. ASIC-Detector coupling test and characterisation.
There is also a follow-on activity to develop a higher speed and higher resolution control ASIC.