Advanced hCMOS Systems licensed the world’s fastest multiframe X-ray imaging technology developed at Sandia National Laboratories in order to support and supply imagers to multiple Department of Energy customers, as well expand its use to areas outside of DOE. A commercial partner like AHS was needed to handle the demand for UXI sensors, as Sandia’s Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications Facility has an R&D focus.
“The positive results of this TRGR Project with Sandia helped us advance a concept that will allow our company to create a new product and move into different application areas and markets.”
Marcos Sanchez
Co-founder
Advanced hCMOS Systems LLC
A TRGR Project with Sandia looked into the company’s idea of changing the architecture of the imager’s photodiode. The current P-Intrinsic-N photodiodes do a great job of converting X-rays and visible light to electrons, but incoming signals must have many photons (bright light) to get acceptable conversion efficiency. AHS company founders had the idea to redesign the sensors for “low light” applications, such as medical fluorescence, where cells only emit a low number of photons.
MESA Manager Tony Colombo and his team performed research to see if Low Gain Avalanche Detector photodiodes could be used to make the imagers more sensitive for use in low light applications. The team also outlined what would be required to build the new version of the LGAD in a commercial fabrication facility.
The TRGR Project has helped move the TRL level of the low-light version of the imagers from 1 to 3 (analytical proof of concept). AHS can now talk to potential customers in new markets about this product, which is looking increasingly possible. The company is also researching foundries to build the new sensors for commercial customers.