High-Resolution Asynchronous Day/Night Timespot NIR-SWIR Imager Development

A compact, low-power near/shortwave infrared sensor capable of temporally and spatially resolving battlefield lasers asynchronously under day and night conditions will be developed. The approach is based on an existing active-passive focal plane array (FPA), which readily lends itself to this application. In Phase I, after working with U.S. Army stakeholders to refine the requirements and the controlled specification, a design trade study will be commenced and a day/night Position and Time Spot (PATS) sensor architecture will be developed. To demonstrate proof-of-concept, the existing PATS sensor will be integrated with an InGaAs detector array and camera electronics, and shown to be capable of acquiring and identifying laser pulse streams at ranges longer than 2.4 km. Also, the ability to use the PATS for laser-beam stabilization will be demonstrated. The circuits for the updated PATS readout integrated circuit (ROIC) will be designed, and their performance simulated and prepared for fabrication in the Phase II program, in which the PATS imager will be fabricated, characterized, and field tested.