Monolithic CMOS LADAR Focal Plane Array (FPA) with a Photonic High-Speed Output Interface

ABSTRACT: Aerius Photonics proposes to develop a monolithic electronic-photonic silicon CMOS Focal Plane Array (FPA) to enable ultra-compact Imaging LADAR sensors. These miniature LADAR sensors would have far reaching impact on a number of DoD applications because of their dramatic reduction in cost, significantly smaller size, weight and power (SWaP) and their improved performance regarding sensitivity and frame rate. The CMOS FPA will integrate in one chip hundreds of photonic components and about one million transistors, making it one of the largest electronic-photonic integrated circuits ever fabricated. In Phase I, Aerius will design all the elements of the integrated chip and will test some individual components. This work will evaluate integration feasibility and reduce the risk for further development. Also in Phase I, Aerius will define the commercialization plan to guide action in Phase II and Phase III of the program. In Phase II, Aerius will fabricate a prototype FPA to demonstrate the significant functionality improvements targeted. The resulting high performance FPA prototypes will be provided to system integrators for incorporation into systems that benefit the mission of DoD and that will be transitioned into manufacturing in Phase III. BENEFIT: With the successful completion of this project, Aerius will have developed the technology to fabricate highly integrated electronic-photonic systems utilizing standard silicon CMOS technology. The first implementation of this technology will produce a miniature low cost LADAR system that will have a large impact on a vast range of defense and civilian systems such as: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) navigation, target identification, weapon precision aiming, surveillance, recovery of injured warfighters, transportation, construction, manufacturing processes, traffic control and visual clues for blind people. The disruptive benefits brought about by this highly integrated FPA are enormous. Following the development of this miniature low cost LADAR, the technology can be applied to the development of other sensors such as detectors of biological and chemical agents and also for advanced communication systems.