Room-temperature THz imaging based on antenna-coupled MOSFET bolometer

Abstract

We report on the design, fabrication and measurements of a new THz sensor concept based on an antenna-coupled MOSFET bolometer for room-temperature passive THz imaging for security and medical-diagnostic applications. The device is fabricated in a 180-nm CMOS SOI technology followed by a post-CMOS MEMS process. In this sensor, the antenna absorbing the THz electromagnetic field is directly coupled to the bolometer for maximum energy collection, whereas its design aims at minimizing its thermal mass as is necessary for fast frame rates. DC measurements before and after the MEMS process as well as thermal time constant and THz antenna measurements are presented. © 2013 IEEE.