Technologies and key components for Compact Hyperspectral Instruments

• Modification of an existing large format CMOS sensor design to allow the deposition of Fabry-Pérot filters at wafer level• Improvement of the Linear Variable Filter (LVF) to match the detector format and filter deposition on both FSI and BSI• Development of the detector read-out electronics and of the relevant electrical I/F• Testing and verification of the fully assembled focal plane assembly

In previous activities the development of a breadboard of a compact hyperspectral instrument and the deposition of  hyperspectral filters on a detector with small format demonstrated the feasibility for realizing the key building blocks of a linear variable filter based hyperspectral imager for earth observation. Further development steps are necessary to advance the technology maturity level of the subsystems and to progress from laboratory demonstration achieved to an engineering model. •Refinement of the conceptual design of the Compact Hyperspectral Instrument and the optical system•Development of a hyperspectral detector both in front and backside illuminated version. The focal plane consists of  different zones having either hyperspectral or panchromatic sensitivity and this way allowing multiple imaging modes from the same compact camera•Development of a high speed read-out electronics system which supports flexible read-out schemes and acquisition modes to exploit the specific focal plane design of the hyperspectral detector •Due to its small form factor the compact hyperspectral instrument can be embarked on small satellite systems (incl. 12U cubesats). While operated in a constellation mode hyperspectral earth observations at high revisit rate can be realized.•The combination of hyperspectral and panchromatic imaging allows to combine high spatial and high spectral resolution imaging