APPLICATIONS OF APS DETECTOR TO GNC SENSORS

摘要

CMOS Active Pixel Sensors (APS) are becoming attractive devices for space applications. Many technological improvements have been gained in the last years, so that present APS's feature radiation hardened design, on chip AD converter and Fixed Pattern Noise suppression circuits. Several programmes have been funded by ESA to support the development of the APS and the applications of this device to attitude sensors and vision cameras. In the frame of these ESA contracts, Galileo Avionica is currently involved in the design and development of APS based sun sensors, star trackers and navigation and vision camera, with the main goal to significantly reduce the mass, size and recurring costs of these sensors.