New developments in HgCdTe APDs and LADAR receivers

William McKeag; Tricia Veeder; Jinxue Wang; Michael Jack; Tom Roberts; Tom Robinson; James Neisz; Cliff Andressen; Robert Rinker; T. Dean Cook; Farzin Amzajerdian

doi:10.1117/12.888099

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20 June 2011 New developments in HgCdTe APDs and LADAR receivers

William McKeag, Tricia Veeder, Jinxue Wang, Michael Jack, Tom Roberts, Tom Robinson, James Neisz, Cliff Andressen, Robert Rinker, T. Dean Cook, Farzin Amzajerdian

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Proceedings Volume 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII; 801230 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.888099
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Raytheon is developing NIR sensor chip assemblies (SCAs) for scanning and staring 3D LADAR systems. High sensitivity is obtained by integrating high performance detectors with gain, i.e., APDs with very low noise Readout Integrated Circuits (ROICs). Unique aspects of these designs include: independent acquisition (non-gated) of pulse returns, multiple pulse returns with both time and intensity reported to enable full 3D reconstruction of the image. Recent breakthrough in device design has resulted in HgCdTe APDs operating at 300K with essentially no excess noise to gains in excess of 100, low NEP <1nW and GHz bandwidths and have demonstrated linear mode photon counting. SCAs utilizing these high performance APDs have been integrated and demonstrated excellent spatial and range resolution enabling detailed 3D imagery both at short range and long ranges. In the following we will review progress in real-time 3D LADAR imaging receiver products in two areas: (1) scanning 256 × 4 configuration for the Multi-Mode Sensor Seeker (MMSS) program and (2) staring 256 × 256 configuration for the Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) lunar landing mission.

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William McKeag, Tricia Veeder, Jinxue Wang, Michael Jack, Tom Roberts, Tom Robinson, James Neisz, Cliff Andressen, Robert Rinker, T. Dean Cook, and Farzin Amzajerdian "New developments in HgCdTe APDs and LADAR receivers", Proc. SPIE 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII, 801230 (20 June 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.888099

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