A 1920x1080 Pixel Visible and Shortwave Infrared Focal Plane Array and Camera for Night Vision Imaging

Sensors Unlimited will design, develop, and deliver a 1920x1080 element InGaAs focal plane array based camera for use in BOTH the Visible and Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) wavelength bands. Using Sensors Unlimited’s proven InP substrate removal process, the short wavelength response of an InGaAs focal plane array is extended, such that the wavelength response spans from the visible (400 nm and 20% quantum efficiency) to the SWIR (1700 nm and 80% quantum efficiency). In addition, a readout integrated circuit architecture with in-pixel current amplification is utilized to achieve “noiseless” gains similar to those obtained by charge multiplying CCD image sensors. During phase I, we designed and laid out a buffered input gate modulated readout integrated circuit architecture to fit in a 12 micron x 12 micron pixel. We also fabricated a 1920x1080 pixel InGaAs photodiode array on a 12 micron pitch and improved our bump bonding technology to fabricate the smaller more uniform bumps needed for this program. During Phase II, the readout integrated circuit and substrate removed InGaAs photodiode arrays will be fabricated and mated to camera electronics, similar to our existing 640x512 SDV camera platform.