Sensors Unlimited Inc. (SUI), a Raytheon Company, continues to expand its sensor portfolio through the development of time-of-flight (TOF) capable technologies. The utility of SWIR for active TOF solutions is of particular interest due to its inherent eye safety characteristic. SUI is developing TOF technologies both at the detector and readout integrated circuit (ROIC) layers of the focal plane array (FPA). In this work, SUI will offer updates to the internal development efforts comprising both areas as it pertains to the time-of-flight technologies.
In this work, SUI presents an update on PIN Photodiode Array (PDA) developments and the advancements in Avalanche Photodetectors (APD) Array development. SUI continue to push the PIN based SWIR photodetector performance by reducing the dark current, increasing the quantum efficiency in broad spectral wavelength range from 400nm to 1700nm and extending the wavelength to 2.6μm. We will also present APD technology advancements specifically related to low temperature performance from room temperature to 260K and Geiger Mode operation. In addition, we will discuss the requirements of Readout Integrated Circuits (ROIC) for APD based sensor development for synchronous and asynchronous pulse detection and active and passive quenching mechanisms. We will also discuss 2-D and 3-D TCAD simulation results at low temperature and compare them with measured performance results. Finally, recent results related to the advanced development of Geiger Mode Avalanche Photodetectors (GMAPD) and the results using passive and active quenching circuits are presented.
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