MiSPIA · Microelectronic Single-Photon 3D Imaging Arrays\nfor low-light high-speed Safety and Security Applications

MiSPIA will develop beyond state-of-the-art photonics technology for array imagers of smart-pixels able to detect single photons. Intelligent in-pixel pre-processing will simultaneously provide ultra high sensitivity (single-photon level), very high frame-rate (up to 200,000fps) and advanced multi-spectral (300-900nm) three-dimensional (3D) distance ranging and two-dimensional (2D) imaging of fast moving objects. MiSPIA detectors will be used in two key applications: long-range (200-1,000m) 2D and 3D active identification in low light level surveillance operations; and very fast (over 200fps) short-range (10-50m) 3D monitoring in automotive pre-crash safety systems. Instead of (slow and noisy) CCDs and CMOS active pixels (with poor sensitivity and noisy electronics), MiSPIA will exploit the ultimate performances of truly-single photon detectors: the Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD).MiSPIA imagers will be based on four different SPAD smart-pixels: photon-counting" pixels for 2D imaging