Low-power high-accuracy micro-digital sun sensor by means of a CMOS image sensor

Xie, Ning; Theuwissen, Albert

doi:10.1117/1.jei.22.3.033030

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is more compatible with microfabrication technologies than the other types and is therefore considered in this work. [4][5] and pixel array sun sensor (right) [6].…”

Section: Experimental Sun Position Sensor Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Towards a Scalable Sun Position Sensor with Monolithic Integration of the 3d Optics for Miniaturized Satellite Attitude Control

Romijn

Vollebregt

Zeijl

et al. 2021

2021 IEEE 34th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper we present a sun position sensor platform with a scalable approach for the 3D integration of the sensor optics. This would facilitate the sun position sensor miniaturization, reduces fabrication cost and mitigates the need for sensor calibration. The sun position sensor platform is implemented in a seven mask BICMOS technology with optical windows between the light masking layer and CMOS image sensor implemented by adhesively bonded glass windows. The CMOS sensor functionality is experimentally verified by modulation of a light spot using a laser. The proposed approach enables wafer-scale fabrication of the 3D optics that includes the wafer stepper accurate overlay alignment of the apertures. This mitigates the need for cumbersome alignment of the apertures at die or package level and facilitates further miniaturization, accuracy and sensor cost.

show abstract

“…This is more compatible with microfabrication technologies than the other types and is therefore considered in this work. [4][5] and pixel array sun sensor (right) [6].…”

Section: Experimental Sun Position Sensor Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 1: Schematic illustration of the collimating sun position sensor architectures present in the platform design, including the quadrant sun sensor (left)[4][5] and pixel array sun sensor (right)[6].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Scalable Sun Position Sensor with Monolithic Integration of the 3d Optics for Miniaturized Satellite Attitude Control

Romijn

Vollebregt

Zeijl

et al. 2021

2021 IEEE 34th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sun sensors can be classified as '0-1' sun sensor, analog sun sensor, or digital sun sensors [1] . With the development of technology, digital sun sensor has the characteristics of high-accuracy, large field-of -view and miniaturization [ 2 ] . Usually sun sensors use CCD(Charge-Coupled Devices)sensors or CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of semi-sphere field-of-view sun sensor integrated with multiple linear CMOS image sensor

Zhao

Zhang

2014

SPIE Proceedings

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sun sensor is a key device in satellite's attitude determination system. It acquires satellite's attitude information by measuring sun light direction. Compared with area array CMOS sun sensor, the linear CMOS sun sensor has the advantages of low power consumption, light weight and relatively simple algorithm. Considering the pixel number, power consumption and efficiency of output, most sun sensors equipped with a single photosensitive unit usually have ( 60 ) ( 60 )°°± × ± field of view(FOV). Satellites usually use multiple sun sensors for semi-sphere field of view in total to meet the need of attitude measurement in all directions. Considering the need of large-scale FOV measurement and high integration level, this paper proposes a semi-sphere FOV sun sensor, of which coverage area can be ( 90 ) ( 90 )°°± × ± . A prototype has been made and the calibration of key component has been conducted. By integrating four photosensitive units, the semi-sphere FOV sun sensor is achieved, as a result, the demand of high integration can be realized for a micro-satellite device. The photosensitive unit consists of an N-shape slit mask and a linear CMOS imagesensor. An N-shape slit model is established to acquire biaxial sun angles from analyzing the shift of 3 peak values from the image of the linear sensor. Embedded system has been designed and developed, in which the MCU control four photosensitive units. Calibration of one photosensitive unit, which is the key step in the process of the whole calibration of semi-sphere FOV sun sensor, has been conducted. As a result of the symmetry of N-shape slit, initial position of the linear image sensor can be fixed. Due to the installation error and machining deviation, centroid algorithm and data gridding technique is adopted to improve the accuracy. Experiments show that the single photosensitive unit can reach an angle accuracy of 0.1625°. Consequently, from the point of significant component in the sun sensor, initial calibration ensures the angle accuracy of semi-sphere FOV sun sensor.

show abstract

“…So it is significant for the sun tracking sensors which are a necessary part of nanosatellites to minimize. Many kinds of sun sensors have been utilized into space applications including positioning solar panels, orienting solar thermal collectors, and the spacecraft attitude determination [1]. However, most solutions need some special process, such as MEMS, or other off-chip devices which is a trade-off of the weight and size of sensor [2][3][4][5][6].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable self-powered light detection CMOS chip with real-time adaptive tracking digital output based on a novel on-chip sensor

Wang

Fan

et al. 2017

Opt. Express

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper provides a solution for a self-powered light direction detection with digitized output. Light direction sensors, energy harvesting photodiodes, real-time adaptive tracking digital output unit and other necessary circuits are integrated on a single chip based on a standard 0.18 µm CMOS process. Light direction sensors proposed have an accuracy of 1.8 degree over a 120 degree range. In order to improve the accuracy, a compensation circuit is presented for photodiodes' forward currents. The actual measurement precision of output is approximately 7 ENOB. Besides that, an adaptive under voltage protection circuit is designed for variable supply power which may undulate with temperature and process.

show abstract

Low-power high-accuracy micro-digital sun sensor by means of a CMOS image sensor

Cited by 14 publications

References 20 publications

Towards a Scalable Sun Position Sensor with Monolithic Integration of the 3d Optics for Miniaturized Satellite Attitude Control

Towards a Scalable Sun Position Sensor with Monolithic Integration of the 3d Optics for Miniaturized Satellite Attitude Control

Development of semi-sphere field-of-view sun sensor integrated with multiple linear CMOS image sensor

Variable self-powered light detection CMOS chip with real-time adaptive tracking digital output based on a novel on-chip sensor

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About