"Night Glow" Short Wave Infrared LED (NSLED) Image Projector Development

ABSTRACT:We propose to develop and demonstrate component technologies, interfaces, and software necessary to build a prototype Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) projection system with high dynamic range and fast frame rates. More specifically, final hardware deliverables for this project include three (3) tested hybrid modules that integrate a 1024x1024 24-micron pitch SWIR LED emitter array with a matching 1024x1024 CMOS RIIC chip. These hybrids will provide laboratory capability to stimulate prototype or imaging SWIR sensors, thus enabling urgently needed development of SWIR sensor capability. Our emitter technology is based on GaInAsSb quaternary semiconductor LED arrays hybridized to CMOS read-in integrated circuits (RIIC).BENEFIT:Infrared LED (IRLED) arrays represent a potentially game changing technology for presenting infrared images in sensor ground test environments offering high frame rate and high temperature simulation, while achieving superior manufacturing yield and uniformity than competing resistor array technology. The proposed work offers a significant opportunity for achieving near-term breakthrough results in making effective IRLED scene projectors by developing areas of IRLED technology that have not been previously addressed.