Ultraviolet Focal Plane Array Detector

To address the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) need for a focal plane array solar-blind UV imaging detector and readout integrated circuit designs, establishing the basis for megapixel UV arrays, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new UV Focal Plane Array (FOCAR) photodetector. This proposed device is based on megapixel silicon microchannel technology and integration with state-of-the-art CMOS detector-readout on-chip technology. The innovation in a high-quantum-efficiency, solar-blind, variable wide-gap photocathode and integrated CMOS sensor will enable the acquisition of two-dimensional projection data for UV imaging. As a result, this device offers small-size megapixel photodetector arrays with improved surface control, increased quantum efficiency, a high signal-to-noise ratio (>10), an integrated ROIC detector-readout, high response uniformity (better than 10%) across large areas, and high dynamic range (70-90 dB), which directly address the DARPA acquisitions program requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of UV FOCAR by developing a small pixel size (~5 µ) prototype UV detector array, evaluating its characteristics, and comparing experimental results with a theoretical model. In Phase II, POC plans to demonstrate a UV imaging focal plane array with a format 64×64 or larger, and a CMOS readout integrated circuit concept.