ROIC for Hybrid, Coherent and Direct-Detect Flash Ladar Receivers

Development efforts for hybrid Flash Ladar receivers are underway, however a common limitation is the lack of an appropriate Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC) to amplify and condition the hybrid Flash Ladar signals. Though Flash Ladar ROICs exist for direct-detect mode and concepts are under development for coherent mode, due to the relative immaturity of the hybrid-mode approach, hybrid-mode ROICs do not, as yet, exist. Aerius proposes to address this ROIC deficiency with development of ROIC circuitry specifically aimed at hybrid-mode Flash Ladar detection. In particular, the ROIC will be designed to mate with Aerius’ Optical Preamplifier Pixel Array (OPPA)-based detector array, currently under development under a separate SBIR topic presently in Phase II. The OPPA approach enables near-photon counting sensitivity to both direct-detect and coherent detection modes and, when mated with an appropriate ROIC, provides a complete, integrated hybrid Flash Ladar receiver solution. In this Phase I effort, Aerius and our STTR partner will design and simulate a hybrid ROIC architecture and experientially verify the coherent and direct detection functions of the circuit with Aerius OPPA technology. In Phase II, a complete ROIC will be developed and integrated with Aerius OPPA for an integrated hybrid receiver solution.