Multiband Infrared (IR) Seeker

We propose a large format collinear MWIR/LWIR 2-color HgCdTe IR Focal Plane Array with multiband enhancement capabilities that can be integrated into a kill vehicle interceptor to perform rudimentary signal pre-processing and cell memory functions thereby elevating seeker abilities to acquire, track, and discriminate enemy targets. This proposed approach, supported by the MKV Program (Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems), is based on a novel differential dual pixel design which consists of using pairs of adjacent pixels each connected in an inverted, parallel configuration. With this invention, common mode rejection of incident radiation, chopper stabilized noise rejection, and differential color signature processing can be performed directly on the focal plane. The inherent balance in this differential pixel design is expected to maintain target lock even during sudden background "sky" inversion events created by interceptor flash or nuclear "red-out". Noise mitigation is achieved by the unique ability of this structure to code input optical signals with a polarity modulation pattern that permits signals to be recovered after HgCdTe detection with greater than 15dB of signal-to-noise improvement. This noise mitigation feature can permit the development of a new generation of low cost, high performance (large D*) smart IR focal plane arrays well matched to the requirements of THAAD and multiple kill vehicle (MKV) programs.