Broadband long wavelength large format focal plane array sensors

The objective of this proposal is to use the proprietary knowledge of readout integrated circuit (ROIC) design gained through our past 20+ years of experience to investigate, research and design a dedicated readout architecture optimized for the high performance C-QWIP PDAs developed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and its partner. These high performance C-QWIP PDAs have demonstrated good results in high speed, high resolution long wavelength infrared (LWIR) imaging applications. This research will result in a state-of-the art ROIC architecture which will fully realize the potential performance of these PDAs, thereby creating an advanced C-QWIP Based Focal Plane Array (FPA). Some immediate applications for these FPAs include manned and unmanned aerial reconnaissance under obscurants and poor weather conditions, identifying targets at the maximum range of future weapons, discriminating between: military and civilian targets, live and decoy systems, operational and non-operational systems, etc. The broadband C-QWIP FPAs are also capable of hyperspectral imaging for chem/bio detection, which improves the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) capability of the Army helicopters in general, allowing rapid detection, location, assessment, and identification of enemy dismounted soldiers.