ROIC Architecture for Passive, Ranging, and 3D Active Imaging

The US Army has been a leader the widespread adoption of thermal imaging, having fielded large quantities of first- and second-generation cooled sensors and pioneering the development and mass deployment of uncooled thermal imaging technology. Active sensors have been limited to laser range finders, pointers, and designators, which operate in the near IR wavelengths. What is lacking is a means to verify that what is being ranged / pointed at / designated in the near IR is actually what is being seen in the thermal image. Additionally, the proliferation of SWIR capable imaging hardware has made emissions in these wavelengths visible to an adversary, which will diminish their tactical utility. Nu-Trek’s “FLIRDAR” ROIC will seamlessly merge 5 modes of active and passive sensing into a single device, providing perfect registration between active sensing activities such as laser range finding / flash Lidar and thermal imaging.