Adaptive Integrated Multi-Modal Sensing Array

Nanoscale infrared detectors are emerging as a potentially powerful alternative to traditional infrared detector technologies. The University of New Mexico has developed dots in a double well (DDWELL) quantum dot infrared photodetectors which have a spectral responsivity that can be tuned by controlling the bias voltage applied. In this Phase II effort, Polaris Sensor and UNM would fabricate a growth optimized DDWELL FPA (to be fabricated by UNM) and develop a novel ROIC (to be developed by Polaris) which would allow the bias voltage of individual pixels to be controlled independently. In one mode of operation, the bias voltages of neighboring pixels would be varied such that two or more IR color images are interlaced, much in the way a color camera employing Bayer color filters interlaces Red, Green and Blue colored images. The FPA and the ROIC would be developed in parallel and UNM would bump bond the FPA to the ROIC. UNM would then utilize their electronics and IR characterization laboratory to test the FPA in terms of spectral response, NEDT, uniformity and quantum efficiency. BENEFIT: This SBIR would produce a multi-spectral, spectrally agile FPA that operates in the LWIR portion of the spectra. The spectral response tuning of the sensor would be built into the FPA itself, thus providing a tremendous advantage over current multi-wavelength systems which rely on dispersive and refractive optics to obtain multiple spectral images. A multi-wavelength IR imager has a vast number of applications such as target detection in highly cluttered backgrounds, target detection and identification from fast moving platforms, detection of space threats, or plume signature determination. The multi-wavelength FPA has the potential to allow a small, compact and rugged multi-spectral IR imager.