Performance improvements for VOx microbolometer FPAs

Daniel F. Murphy; Michael Ray; Jessica Wyles; James F. Asbrock; C. Hewitt; Richard Wyles; Eli Gordon; T. Sessler; Adam Kennedy; Stefan T. Baur; David Van Lue; Steven Anderson; Richard Chin; H. Gonzales; C. Le Pere; S. Ton; Thomas Kostrzewa

doi:10.1117/12.548883

30 August 2004 Performance improvements for VOx microbolometer FPAs

Daniel F. Murphy, Michael Ray, Jessica Wyles, James F. Asbrock, C. Hewitt, Richard Wyles, Eli Gordon, T. Sessler, Adam Kennedy, Stefan T. Baur, David Van Lue, Steven Anderson, Richard Chin, H. Gonzales, C. Le Pere, S. Ton, Thomas Kostrzewa

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5406, Infrared Technology and Applications XXX; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.548883
Event: Defense and Security, 2004, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Raytheon is producing high-quality 320 x 240 microbolometer FPAs with 25 μm pitch pixels. The 320 x 240 FPAs have a sensitivity that is comparable to microbolometer FPAs with 50 μm pixels. Typical NETD values for these FPAs are <50mK 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 4% (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 demonstration systems. The pixel size reduction facilitates a significant FPA cost reduction since the number of die printed on a wafer can be increased, and also has enabled the development of a large-format 640 x 480 FPA array. Raytheon is producing these arrays with excellent sensitivity and typical NETD values of <50mK with an f/1 aperture and operating at 30 Hz frame rates. These arrays have excellent operability and image quality. Several dual FOV prototype 640 x 480 systems have been delivered under the LCMS and UAV programs. RVS has developed a flexible uncooled front end (UFE) electronics that will serve as the basis for the camera engine systems using 320 x 240 arrays. RVS has developed a 640 x 480 Common Uncooled Engine (CUE) which is intended for small pixel, high performance applications. The CUE is the ideal cornerstone for ground and airborne systems, multi-mode sensor, weapon sight or seeker architectures, and commercial surveillance.

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Daniel F. Murphy, Michael Ray, Jessica Wyles, James F. Asbrock, C. Hewitt, Richard Wyles, Eli Gordon, T. Sessler, Adam Kennedy, Stefan T. Baur, David Van Lue, Steven Anderson, Richard Chin, H. Gonzales, C. Le Pere, S. Ton, and Thomas Kostrzewa "Performance improvements for VOx microbolometer FPAs", Proc. SPIE 5406, Infrared Technology and Applications XXX, (30 August 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.548883

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