Miniature/Sub-miniature Infrared (IR) Camera

Recent advances in uncooled infrared detector technology have given rise to new standards in camera miniaturization. Significant reductions in the size, volume, and weight of electronics, detector packaging, mechanical calibration sub-assemblies, andoptics have resulted in a class of miniature cameras that are opening many new and varied applications for infrared imaging. However, these uncooled-based cameras fall short of the performance required for many applications where increased sensitivity,higher frame-rates, and/or MWIR detection is required. A key example is airborne sensors which are required to fit into small-volume gimbals and operate at high altitudes (i.e. long stand-off ranges). In these applications cooled detectors, such as thosebased upon indium antimonide (InSb) focal plane arrays, are the technology of choice. But because of the need for a cryogenic cooler and its associated size, weight, and power dissipation there has been less industry focus on highly miniaturized cooledcameras in this class.Indigo Systems, a pioneer in the development and commercialization of ultra-miniature uncooled cameras and a leader in the development of high-performance cooled cameras, proposes the development of a highly miniaturized cooled camera (MCC) suitable forhigh-altitude airborne applications. During Phase I Indigo shall conduct a trade analysis of potential feature/performance issues, which shall incorporate input from various Government and commercial customer stakeholders to establish a requirementsdocument that will guide a Phase II development process. Also during Phase I Indigo shall complete a conceptual design of the MCC and conduct a Conceptual Design Review with interested Government stakeholders. As a starting point, the MCC will be basedupon an existing Indigo 320x256 InSb focal plane array, the smallest commercial cryo-cooler deemed suitably available, an Indigo designed detector dewar package, and newly developed electronics based upon extensive architectural and packaging experiencederived from previous uncooled ultra-miniature camera efforts. This starting point will be modified based upon stakeholder inputs. The advantages of miniature-uncooled cameras are well recognized by Government and commercial customers of infrared imagers. The ultra-small size allows cameras to be incorporated into applications unimagined just 5 years ago. Dozens of important newuses that provide today's war fighter advantage are the outcome of camera miniaturization. However the inherent disadvantages to uncooled technology render these miniaturization advances useless to several key Government and commercial customers. Thesedisadvantages include reduced sensitivity, larger pixel sizes, lower spatial resolution, slower detector time constants, and fast (large) optics. Also, all current uncooled cameras based upon microbolometer or ferro-electric technologies are optimizedexclusively for the 8um to 12um waveband.An important class of Government application requires the placement of high-performance sensors into remotely operated and/or airborne platforms that have significant limitations on payload size and weight. Typically these platforms are used to imagetargets at long stand-off ranges and therefore require long focal length, high f-number optics not feasible for use with uncooled sensors. Also, these sensors are often used for radiometric data collection and/or target tracking associated with IR guidedweapon systems which are responsive in the MWIR bands. For these reasons uncooled cameras lack the speed, fidelity, sensitivity, and spectral response required. Therefore many Government customers lack a suitable sensor that combines miniaturization withhigh-performance MWIR sensitivity. This has become a limiting factor in determining mission requirements.