| A multiple-unit artificial retina chipset (MARC) to benefit the visually impaired is presented. The design, fabrication, and testing of the first generation MARC VLSI chips are reported on. A synthesis of the engineering, biological, medical, and physical research is offered within the presentation of methods and means for the overall design engineering, powering, bonding, packaging, and hermetic sealing of the MARC retinal prosthesis. The use of an inductive link for power and telemetric communications is explored, and an experimental study of RF coil configurations, showing their feasibility for this implant, is offered. An enhanced CMOS phototransistor with a holed emitter (HEP), used in the first generation MARC, is presented, along with a numerical model which also predicts its enhanced quantum efficiency. The enhanced performance of the HEP is accounted for via the fundamental physics of transistor operation. |
