Interline CCD for Low light Imagery

There is a need to complement the current Gen III image intensifier imaging system with a solid-state low light level camera that is better optimized for remote viewing applications. A silicon-based solution is an ideal candidate for low light imaging because of its high quantum efficiency, low dark current, and excellent uniformity. However, to meet performance requirements under overcast starlight conditions with minimum or no cooling, the total noise of a conventional CCD or CMOS camera is prohibitive. A hybrid focal plane with CCD retina coupled to a CMOS readout integrated circuit has been shown to have sufficiently low noise so as to offer a true solid-state night vision capability. In order to improve its utility as a night imaging sensor, the CCD must be designed to eliminate smear, which is the result of the sensor being illuminated during image readout. To achieve this performance, we will design a high performance, split-frame interline transfer (split FIT) CCD imager that will achieve 10pA/cm2 dark current and less than 2 electrons readout noise per pixel per frame at room temperature. The split FIT CCD architecture is absolutely necessary for low smear performance.