Time delay integration using COTS IT-CCD for remote sensing and other applications

A time delay integration imaging system using a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) interline transfer-charge-coupled device (IT-CCD) was developed. The developed system was applied to the remote sensing sensor onboard the Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS), “TSUBAME”, one of satellite missions from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The sensor has demonstrated high-resolution of the satellite images even with a low cost of development. The system must suit a remote sensing sensors onboard small satellites, which are expected to be in higher demand in the near future. In the present paper, principles and features of the developed system are introduced, as well as expected applications.