MInOSS project

The main goal of the ESPRIT project 'microintegrated intelligent optical sensor systems' (MInOSS) was to investigate a design methodology for optical sensor systems. The methodology was applied to the design of a library of modules and general building blocks in a standard CMOS technology aimed at easing the design of future optical sensors. A set of demonstrators was developed, including a linear array of sensors for spectrophotometry and a number of 2D sensor arrays for use in 'intelligent' digital cameras. The main results of the project to be reviewed in this paper include a library photodiode arrays and charge amplifiers; three-step flash and algorithmic analog-to- digital converters for on-chip conversion; the architectures of the linear and 2D intelligent sensors which were developed; and guidelines for the practical design of photosensors and pixel arrays in a mixed analogue/digital/optical environment.