Caeleste - Flash-LIDAR image development for the European Space Agency
The Client
Caeleste is a turn-key supplier of high-end, beyond state-of-the-art CMOS image sensors. Their activities include custom image sensor design, manufacture, assembly and characterization. Caeleste is the originator of many novel concepts as high-speed, low-noise image sensors, indirect X-ray detectors with photon counting, color X-ray sensors, and sub-0.5 noise electron read noise CMOS pixels.
The added value of our consultants
Joren Joly, Consultant electronics hardware
Joren Joly joined VeroTech in 2023 as a consultant Electronic Hardware Designer at Caeleste. He worked on the development of a custom Flash-LIDAR image sensor for the European Space Agency (ESA), which could potentially be used in applications such as a moon lander. Flash-LIDAR is an advanced remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to rapidly scan an environment, creating a high-resolution 3D map.
His first task in the project was designing the schematic and PCB that would house and connect the bare image sensor (called COB, Chip-On-Board), ensuring signal transmission to and from the sensor. Signal integrity was crucial, and the design had to accommodate measurement by probes at various stages. In addition, Joren developed a generic test system for this and future projects. The goal was to allow the testing of four image sensors simultaneously in environments like vacuum and thermal chambers, using the main test board. The team had to come up with an architecture of a system which can do all of this, which should be translated and drawn in a schematic with the right components. To realize this into a PCB, it was very important to define the rules and to have a clear view how this system will be used on top of the existing test system and to make it easy to use in the upcoming future.
One of the biggest challenges for Joren was working with an untested image sensor, which required close collaboration with the chip designers. Other challenges included mastering the bonding rules for bare chips, ensuring signal integrity throughout the design, and creating a flexible test system. Despite these challenges, Joren could always rely on a wonderful team and colleagues for help and insights, which made the experience both highly educational and enjoyable.