Voltage domain TDI with diffusion-enhanced pixels

As alternative to a CCD-based, charge domain, Time Delayed Integration (TDI) operation, we developed a analog domain TDI image sensor. The 143μm pixel pitch, 4-stage TDI operation is emulated by analog summation of 4 time-delayed samples of 4 rows of pixels. The frame period is 142μs. The device is intended for “push-broom” operation in a remote sensing mission. These pixels are pretty large; the individual pixel has a sun-shape (star-shape) geometry that speeds up the photo charge diffusion to the central transfer gate with an estimated factor of at least four.