ON Semiconductor To Jointly Develop Next Generation Star Tracker CMOS Image Sensor With The European Space Agency

ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ONNN), a premier supplier of high performance silicon solutions for energy efficient electronics today announced that the European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded it a joint development contract for the next generation star tracker CMOS Image Sensor (CIS), referred to as HAS3.

Once developed and qualified, the High Accuracy Star Tracker 3 (HAS3) image sensor will expand the STAR family of radiation-tolerant CIS. The existing HAS2 CIS offered today by ON Semiconductor is designed for Attitude and Orbit Control (AOCS) space applications. The HAS2 was developed and qualified under the General Support Technology Programme of the ESA. The device features an array of 1024 x 1024 active pixels (18 µm) and supports on-chip non-destructive readout and multiple windowing. Following its successful qualification in 2007, ON Semiconductor’s HAS2 image sensor has become the heart of a new generation of Star Trackers which have become the defacto industry standard.

The HAS3 next generation CIS to be jointly developed by ON Semiconductor and the ESA is expected to provide advanced sensor technology. The HAS3 will be a 1280 x 1280 pixel, radiation tolerant CMOS image sensor that features low read noise, 11 x 11 µm ² pixels having 14 bit performance. The HAS3 sensor will support multiple windowing, will be made available in a fully hermetic sealed package and has the option for backside illumination. Applications for the HAS3 device will include star trackers, sun sensors and other scientific applications.

HAS2 Supply

When in July 2011, the silicon supplier producing the HAS2 wafers for ON Semiconductor announced that they would be discontinuing manufacture of this product, ON Semiconductor followed industry Product Change Notification procedures and put its HAS2 image sensor on a “Last Time Buy Status.” Where applicable, special arrangements have been made with existing customers to minimize the impact of this status change. In addition, ON Semiconductor has secured ample product inventory to supply this product to customers to service their predicted full lifetime needs. The company has been actively working with the ESA to perform systematic lot testing to assure HAS2 availability for the years to come. After this period, it is expected that the next generation HAS3 being jointly developed with the ESA will equip a new generation of APS Star Tracker.

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