Infrared Scene Generation for Wide Field of View (WFOV) Sensors

ABSTRACT: We propose the continued development of dual-color LED arrays suitable for Infrared Scene Projection applications. These GaSb based LEDs incorporate both mid-wave and long-wave infrared active regions and can emit simultaneously at both wavelengths with independent control of the relative intensities of the two bands. The GaSb material system is flexible enough to combine Type-I mid-wave active regions and Type-II long-wave active regions on the same substrate. The proposed device emits at 3.2 microns and 8 microns, although the material system allows for tremendous wavelength flexibility within the 2 micron to 16 micron range. Deep grooves around each pixel allow for independent contacts at each pixel location to each of the two active regions. The arrays will ideally have dedicated dual-color read-in-integrated-circuits (RIICs) for the best performance. If a dedicated RIIC is not available, we propose demonstrating LED arrays of 512x256 pixels using existing single color RIICs intended for 512x512 pixel applications. These existing RIICs can drive the LED array with reduced resolution until a dedicated RIIC can be made available. BENEFIT: The GaSb material system allows efficient LEDs and LED arrays to be produced over a wide spectral range. The proposed LED array can emit simultaneously and independently at 3.2 microns and 8 microns from each pixel. This allows one LED array to cover the mid and long wave infrared without filters or image combiners. The resulting compact, stable, and durable light source is ideal for hardware-in-the-loop infrared scene projection applications.