Digital Readout Integrated Circuits With Efficient, Low Power On-chip Data Compression Development

In Phase I Nu-Trek demonstrated the feasibility of the Orchid readout integrated circuit (ROIC), which offers multiple on-chip data compression options, dual band operation, a large format, a high frame rate, and very low power consumption. Underlying the game changing performance is Nu-Trek’s Mixed Mode architecture, which supports multiple data compression options and consumes less than ¼ the power per sample than alternative approaches. A key program accomplishment was developing a lossless on chip compression engine, which is especially compatible with ROIC data flow. Very high data compression rates were demonstrated on imagery supplied by NVESD. In Phase II the Orchid ROIC will be designed and fabricated. The Orchid technology is broadly applicable to large format, high frame rate IR sensors, including to a couple of Army programs-of-record. Non DoD applications of the Orchid technology include first responders such as firefighter and search and rescue teams, perimeter security and surveillance, night driving aids, border patrol, and other infrared imaging applications in which high performance is required.