Peter B. Catrysse, Ph.D. - Research Website

"The optics of image sensors"
P. B. Catrysse, Stanford University (2003)

Abstract:

The ability to reproduce a high quality image depends strongly on the image sensor light sensitivity and selectivity, which in turn depend on the optical properties of the pixel. The optical efficiency of a CMOS image sensor pixel is calculated using a geometrical-optics phase-space approach and predictions are validated with measurements made using a CMOS digital pixel sensor.

Next, following the trend of increased integration in CMOS image sensors, light filters using patterned metal layers are placed on top of each pixel’s photodetector. To demonstrate wavelength selectivity, integrated color pixels with 1D and 2D patterned metal layers are prototyped in a standard 180-nm CMOS technology. The transmittance of several designs is found to exhibit wavelength selectivity in the visible range. Numerical electromagnetic field simulation of 1D patterned metal layers results in good agreement with measurements. Finally, electromagnetic field simulations are used to predict the transmittance for more elaborate designs.

Featured publications:

• P. B. Catrysse and B. A. Wandell, "Integrated color pixels in 0.18-µm complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 22, 2293, 2003. [pdf]
• (Nominated) P. B. Catrysse, B. A. Wandell, and A. El Gamal, "An Integrated Color Pixel in 0.18µm CMOS technology," 2001 International Electron Devices Meeting - Technical Digest, 559, 2001. [pdf]
  (One of 204 accepted papers out of 595 submitted abstracts. Nominated for 2001 Best Student Paper Award)
• (Cited 30 times) P. B. Catrysse and B. A. Wandell, "Optical Efficiency of Image Sensor Pixels," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 19, 1610, 2002. [pdf]
• (Cited 12 times) P. B. Catrysse, X. Liu, and A. El Gamal, "Quantum efficiency reduction due to pixel vignetting in CMOS image sensors," Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 3965, 420, 2000. [pdf]

Ph.D. advisors:

• Professor Brian A. Wandell
  Stein Family Professor
  Department of Electrical Engineering (by courtesy), Stanford University
• Professor Abbas El Gamal
  Director, Information Systems Laboratory (ISL)
  Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University