Integrated, Dual-Function FPA Photoreceiver with Internal Gain for Low Light Level and LADAR Imaging

Solid State Scientific Corporation proposes an triangular barrier photodiode (TBPD) detector for use on a dual mode sensor. The TBPD will function as a passive low-light visible-SWIR imager at long range and as a 3-D LADAR sensor at short range. The TBPD has the advantage of increased optical gain with decreased incident power, making it very attractive for applications with weak target signals, such as LADAR and low-light level imaging. This detector characteristic was demonstrated in Phase I where SSSC modeled, designed, fabricated and tested the detector in the InGaAs material system. In Phase II, the photodiode will be integrated with both an imaging and a LADAR circuit using epitaxial wafer transfer. The resulting low-cost solid-state, imaging and LADAR receivers will have internal detector gain.