ICMOS: Intensified CMOS Camera for Biological Applications

Quality imaging is a critical component in many scientific experiments. However, the imaging devices currently in use consist mainly of either point-detectors, which have poor spatial information, or large area detectors, which have poor timing information. A device which combines fast non-imaging and slow imaging techniques is ideal for scientific research in which there are low light levels and a need for position and timing information. Such a device would be a powerful tool especially in the biological sciences where data obtained from microscopy is transferred in photons and where more powerful optoelectronic technology would be groundbreaking. We are in the initial stages of developing an ultrafast and ultra-sensitive intensified CMOS camera which will hopefully exceed existing technology. Several tests, including incorporation with ongoing biology experiments at UCLA, were executed to increase understanding of the hardware and the improvements which will be necessary to achieve our specified imaging goals [1].