Development of photonic crystal based large format IR scene projection technology

J. A. Wilson; B. Burckel; J. Caulfield; S. Cogan; M. Massie; R. Rapp; R. Rose; D. Snyder

doi:10.1117/12.923080

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10 May 2012 Development of photonic crystal based large format IR scene projection technology

J. A. Wilson, B. Burckel, J. Caulfield, S. Cogan, M. Massie, R. Rapp, R. Rose, D. Snyder

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Proceedings Volume 8356, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop XVII; 835609 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.923080
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

This paper describes recent results from the Extremely High Temperature Photonic Crystal System Technology (XTEMPS) technology program. The XTEMPS program has developed a Photonic Crystal (PhC) based high efficiency IR emitter array for use in the emerging generation of wide field of view high performance scene projectors. Cyan's approach provides high dynamic range, multispectral emission from SWIR to LWIR and is uniquely capable of accurately simulating very realistic system spectral signatures. The PhC array is fabricated from refractory materials to provide high radiance and long service lifetime. Cyan is teamed with Sandia National Laboratories for design and fabrication of the emitter and with Nova sensors to utilize their advanced Read In Integrated Circuit (RIIC). PhC based emitters show improved inband output power efficiency when compared to broad band "graybody" emitters due to the absence of out-of-band emission. Less electrical power is required to achieve high operating temperature, and non-Lambertian emission pattern puts a large fraction of the emitted energy into a straight ahead beam. Both effects significantly boost effective radiance output. Cyan has demonstrated pixel designs compatible with Nova's medium format RIIC, which ensures high apparent output temperatures with modest drive currents and low operating voltages of less than five volts. Unit cell pixel structures for high radiative efficiency have been demonstrated and arrays using PhC optimized for up to four spectral bands have been successfully patterned and fabricated into high yield wafers.

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J. A. Wilson, B. Burckel, J. Caulfield, S. Cogan, M. Massie, R. Rapp, R. Rose, and D. Snyder "Development of photonic crystal based large format IR scene projection technology", Proc. SPIE 8356, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop XVII, 835609 (10 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.923080

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