Advanced VOx Microbolometer Focal Plane Array Design

In this project, Nova Sensors and DRS Technologies have partnered to produce the world’s most capable uncooled microbolometer infrared focal plane array. Leveraging the tremendous accomplishments that DRS has achieved in materials development and the innovative, low noise readout integrated circuit designs produced by Nova Sensors, this winning team will perform trade studies and hardware testing in this Phase I SBIR project that will form the basis for the development and demonstration of a prototype uncooled microbolometer sensor in the Phase 2 effort. The state-of-the-art in uncooled microbolometer technology has produced a 17 micron pitch pixel that has achieved noise equivalent temperature difference (NEDT) performance of slightly better than 20 mK. DRS is one of the primary players in this technology development and has agreed to work with Nova Sensors such that the combined detector/ROIC system will offer new capabilities heretofore unavailable anywhere in the industry. Exploitation of unique pixel structures, the potential to use new heat absorbing materials including carbon nanotubes and the continued refinement of micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) will be elements of this research project. Nova will develop new ROIC architectures that have the potential to combine unique on-FPA processing structures with the pixel sensitivity advantages that DRS provides. BENEFIT: Nova and DRS seek to produce an uncooled imaging device that competes in performance with cryogenically cooled imaging sensor arrays. Unparalleled sensitivity and low noise performance achieved with this new generation of uncooled imagers will help to establish a line of infrared camera systems to be used in a wide variety of military and commercial applications in high sales volumes.