Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

TECHNOLOGY FOR EUROPEAN INDEPENDENCE IN SPACE IMAGE SENSOR

Project description

Improving European space sector competitiveness and independence

The renewed interest in space exploration, surveillance and security of space objects has created competitive conditions requiring support for start-ups and established companies via funding programmes. However, if the space sector in EU countries doesn’t receive the necessary support in time, it will struggle to maintain competitiveness. The EU-funded TENSIS project will strengthen the know-how of space-based CIS and guarantee independence across the entire industrial chain. Consequently, strengthening the production chain through development, validation and manufacturing becomes vital. The chosen CMOS-180nm technology must be scalable to high image resolution, tolerant to cosmic radiation, cost-effective, customisable and suited to space applications. The TENSIS project will boost European competitiveness, benefit prime contractors and equipment manufacturers, and strengthen EU's independence from foreign suppliers.

Objective

The objective of the Technology for European iNdependence in Space Image Sensors (TENSIS) project is to develop, manufacture, and validate a scalable, large-area, high-resolution, radiation tolerant, customizable, and affordable, 180nm CMOS detector, with the key technical characteristics of a 24K x 16K format matrix of 400MPixels.
The targeted pixel pitch is 3.5m to keep the overall matrix manufacturable with the proposed X-Fab 0.18m CMOS Image Sensor process, and with high Full Well Capacity.
Overall pixel electro-optical performances including MTF and spectral features will be enhanced by the design and implementation of specific optical stack in Back Side Illumination configuration, combining RGB&NIR filters with flat microlenses.
As a by product of the design of the 24K x 16K detector, a 4K x 4K detector will also be designed and manufactured by Te2v in FSI then BSI configuration. Te2v will package produced dies in PCB package and deliver them to Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse for detailed functional electro-optical characterization. Before this characterization test campaign, Airbus will develop dedicated test means including proximity boards both matching with the 24K x 16K and the 4K x 4K detectors, in close cooperation with Tev.
A group of 4K x 4K BSI detectors initially electro-optically characterized by Airbus will then be delivered to ALTER, at Sville to be submitted to dedicated environmental tests, including TID, TNID and heavy ions radiation campaigns as well as burn-in and power on/off cycling tests. Thanks to this test campaign, the 4K x 4K detector die will reach TRL7 by the end of the project .
The project will further aim at creating a strategic competitive advantage for the European partners, prime and equipment manufacturers and reduce the dependence on critical technologies and capabilities from outside EU. It will rely on the X-Fab foundry, which is key for the TENSIS project.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2024-SPACE-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

TELEDYNE E2V SEMICONDUCTORS SAS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 079 419,87
Address
AVENUE DE ROCHEPLEINE
38120 Saint Egreve
France

See on map

Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Isère
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (4)

My booklet 0 0