Expanded applications for high performance VOx microbolometer FPAs

D. Murphy; M. Ray; A. Kennedy; J. Wyles; C. Hewitt; R. Wyles; E. Gordon; T. Sessler; S. Baur; D. Van Lue; S. Anderson; R. Chin; H. Gonzalez; C. Le Pere; S. Ton; T. Kostrzewa

doi:10.1117/12.609462

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31 May 2005 Expanded applications for high performance VOx microbolometer FPAs

D. Murphy, M. Ray, A. Kennedy, J. Wyles, C. Hewitt, R. Wyles, E. Gordon, T. Sessler, S. Baur, D. Van Lue, S. Anderson, R. Chin, H. Gonzalez, C. Le Pere, S. Ton, T. Kostrzewa

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Proceedings Volume 5783, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXI; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.609462
Event: Defense and Security, 2005, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

RVS is producing high-quality microbolometer FPAs with 25 μm pixels. We have developed formats in both 320 x 240 and 640 x 480 array formats. These FPAs have demonstrated sensitivities that are comparable to microbolometer FPAs with 50 μm pixels with the best measured NETD value for these FPAs now <25mK with an f/1 aperture and operating at 30 Hz frame rates. Pixel operability is greater than 99.9% on most FPAs, and uncorrected responsivity nonuniformity is less than 3% (sigma/mean). These 25 μm microbolometer detectors also have a relatively fast thermal time constant of approximately 10 msec. These arrays have produced excellent image quality, and are currently fielded in a variety of systems. We will report on our latest performance data and IR captive flight test imagery. We will also show data on 25μm arrays that have been designed for faster time constants (5 msec), while maintaining high performance. RVS is also developing a 320 x 240 50μm mid-wave responding FPA. We will review the MWIR sensitivity improvements with this array and provide IR imagery. RVS is developing a 640 x 480 25μm uncooled FPA for a countermine detection application using a two-band assembly designed to be sensitive in both the Restrahlen and Thermal spectral bands. We will provide IR image data on these arrays. RVS has made a significant breakthrough in the development of a 640 x 512 array with a unit cell size of 20 μm x 20 μm, and performance approaching that of the 25μm arrays. The successful development of this array is the first step in achieving mega-pixel formats. This FPA is designed to ultimately achieve performance near the temperature fluxuation limited NETD (<20mK, f/1, 30 Hz). We will show updated performance and imagery on these arrays, which is currently being measured at <45mK, f/1, 30 Hz.

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D. Murphy, M. Ray, A. Kennedy, J. Wyles, C. Hewitt, R. Wyles, E. Gordon, T. Sessler, S. Baur, D. Van Lue, S. Anderson, R. Chin, H. Gonzalez, C. Le Pere, S. Ton, and T. Kostrzewa "Expanded applications for high performance VOx microbolometer FPAs", Proc. SPIE 5783, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXI, (31 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.609462

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