Development of a Low Light Level Imaging System Using Microlenses for Improved Performance and Digital Systems Interface Capability

Microlenses integrated with the focal plane arrays are found to improve its performance very significantly, through improvement of the fill factor, signal to noise ratio and increase of the operating temperature. Princeton Electronic Systems has developed a very sophisticated technique for fabrication of the microlenses on semiconductor wafers which can be applied to fill one critical DOD need, which is to devlop improved low cost night vision systems compatible with the existing digital systems in the field and the systems in the digital battlefield of the future. It is extremely important for the helicoter pilots and gunners to be able to have the information from the IFF and GPS and other simialr systems displayed on the output of the night vision system. The current low light level system which is the Gen III type of night vision system based on GaAs photocathodes, does not display these kinds of information and does not interface with the outside digital systems. We propose to develop an InGaAs detector based FPA which can be the basis for an extremely high performance, low cost night vision system with digital interface and display capability. A low cost commercial system can be developed by the end of the program which can be sold in large quantities to the civilian users like law enforcement, security systems manufacturers, drug interdiction operations, television reporting and many other applications. Anticipated Military Benefits/Potential Commercial Applications of the Research or Development: An improved low cost, low light level imaging system capable of interfacing with the other digital systems will have a large number of potential applications in the military. In the commercial area, a low cost, low light level system will have applications in law enforcement, television reporting, perimenter security and other areas.