Under the contract, which was awarded by the UK Space Agency, Teledyne e2v , in collaboration with other organisations within Teledyne’s Imaging Group, will lead the development of new technology which will simplify EO satellite system design using CMOS Time Delay and Integration (TDI) image sensors.
The CMOS TDI platform will bring small pixels, high line rates and on-chip functionality, including digital outputs, to enable cost-effective small satellite optical payloads. The technology will support a number of emerging EO applications such as land use mapping, urban infrastructure, agriculture, national resource management, disaster management, maritime, security and surveillance – applications which are not well served with traditional sensor solutions..
In conjunction with SSTL’s experience in building very high resolution small satellite imagers and the OU’s capabilities in sensor characterisation and testing, Teledyne e2v will look to deliver an EO imaging system that demonstrates a more affordable space asset cost for customers looking at 0.5 meter systems and applications.
Although traditional Charge Coupled Device (CCD) technology continues to deliver the very highest performance for many demanding applications, some key benefits of CMOS TDI image sensors are: reduced power consumption; increased on-chip integration and functionality and reduced size, volume and cost of the complete sensor and front-end electronics
By leveraging these benefits, larger constellations will be able to be launched to achieve higher temporal resolution.
