High Resolution VIS/SWIR (Visible/Short Wave Infrared) Low-Light Level Digital Sensor and Camera Development

ABSTRACT:The objective of the work proposed in this Phase 1 effort is to identify a set of manufacturing process steps that provide the necessary enabling technology to improve upon Intevacs current low-light level camera product offerings: our ISIE6 electron-bombarded active pixel sensor (EBAPS) based digital intensified-imaging (DI2) cameras (which incorporate an InGaAs photocathode that is responsive from 950nm-1650nm) and our GaAs-photocathode-based ISIE11 EBAPS-based DI2 cameras (2M 10.8um-square pixels, 1600 x 1200 frame at 60Hz, <1 Photoelectron noise floor). We seek to develop manufacturing process steps that support incorporation of a modified InGaAs photocathode that is responsive from 500nm to 1650nm into an ISIE11-based sensor and camera. The feasibility study proposed for this Phase 1 effort shall enable a down-selection among potential technical approaches that are to result in the highly manufacturable processing of an InGaAs Transferred Electron (TE) photocathode with a high resolution contact grid that is attached to a transparent window/substrate and is compatible with Intevacs processing steps that integrate the TE-photocathode into an ISIE11 EBAPS. It is expected that the down-selected manufacturing process shall be implemented and a working prototype TE-EBAPS sensor exhibiting extended spectral response shall be produced in Phase 2.BENEFIT:There is strong interest in extending the spectral response of man-portable night vision systems to cover the VIS/SWIR spectral band (<700nm to 1650nm). In order to enable the U.S. to maintain superiority in night vision capability over our adversaries, passive imaging in the VIS/SWIR under starlight and lower light level conditions is highly desired. The ability to use out-of-band laser pointers and illuminators provides additional distinct operational advantages. The TE-photocathode process development proposed here shall enable the fielding of already demonstrated low-weight, low power ISIE11 EBAPS sensor-based cameras and goggles, but with extended VIS/SWIR spectral range and accompanying system-performance trade-offs that depend critically upon the effectiveness of the technical approach.