US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD and TowerJazz to develop high performance CMOS low light imaging solutions for army portable systems

NEWPORT BEACH, USA: TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, has signed contracts for two phases of development with the US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision Electronics and Sensors Directorate (NVESD) for CMOS low light image sensor development for Army portable systems.

As part of this effort, TowerJazz is expanding its aerospace and defense on-shore capability by introducing world class CMOS image sensor (CIS) foundry processes and solutions in its Newport Beach, CA facility. This project will result in advanced CIS technology at TowerJazz’s on-shore facility and provide the US Army with a solution for its demanding technology needs and provide state-of-the-art CIS technology for Department of Defense (DoD) CIS programs.

A key goal of the US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD program is to enable CMOS imagers with low noise and high sensitivity over a broad spectral range. TowerJazz was chosen as a development partner due to its pixel process which uses advanced methods and technology providing higher pixel performance than competing commercial approaches.

The transferred 180nm CMOS image sensor process at TowerJazz’s US location is meant to be a viable, commercially sustainable foundry offering to support not only the Army NVESD and their suppliers, but all DoD agencies and other interested third parties.

The TowerJazz pixel and process will be used as the base for the development of a lower dark current PMOS Pixel that will enable the design of the NVESD 4 Mpixel low light level BSI sensor and other low dark current, high performance imagers. TowerJazz will also evaluate the types of process flows needed to support fabrication of backside illuminated or SOI based CMOS image sensors.

“We appreciate the vision and leadership of the US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD team in supporting this CMOS low light image sensor development. As a US-based supplier for key manufacturing technology, TowerJazz looks forward to our continued partnership in the establishment of advanced specialty technology that supports their program roadmaps,” said Mike Scott, Director of Sales and Marketing – USA Aerospace and Defense Division, TowerJazz.