Improved Low Light Level, Wide Multi-Band Infrared Imager

A detector array with a low cost and high sensitivity across the IR spectrum that requires little to no cooling is desired. Triton Services, Inc. is proposing to develop a new class of microelectromechanical based IR imagers with a sensitivity that exceeds the current state-of-the-art by an order of magnitude and with properties that can be adjusted post production, even during the operation of the device. The specific application that motivates our investigation is the development of an inexpensive, room-temperature, infrared focal plane array to replace the ubiquitous cryogenic cooled, passive, multiple-wavelength, thermal imaging sensors carried by most combat aircrafts, unmanned aerial vehicles, many satellites, warships and ground vehicles. The new focal plane array is expected to process many widely spaced wavelengths from 1-12 microns using a single array.