High operating temperature IR-modules with reduced pitch for SWaP sensitive applications

R. Breiter; J. Wendler; H. Lutz; S. Rutzinger; T. Ihle; J. Ziegler; I. Rühlich

doi:10.1117/12.884009

20 May 2011 High operating temperature IR-modules with reduced pitch for SWaP sensitive applications

R. Breiter, J. Wendler, H. Lutz, S. Rutzinger, T. Ihle, J. Ziegler, I. Rühlich

Proceedings Volume 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII; 80122V (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884009
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Low size, weight and power (SWaP) are the most critical requirements for portable thermal imagers like weapon sights or handheld observations devices. On the other hand due to current asymmetrical conflicts there are high requirements for the e/o performance of these devices providing the ability to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants in adequate ranges. Despite of all the success with uncooled technology, such requirements usually still require cooled detectors. AIM has developed a family of thermal weapon sights called HuntIR and RangIR based on high performance cooled IR-modules which are used e.g. in the infantryman of the future program of the German army (IdZ). The specific capability of these devices is a high ID range >1500m for tank targets being suitable in use as thermal sights for .50 cal rifles like the G82, targeting units for the 40mm AGL or for night observation. While such ranges sound far beyond the operational needs in urban operations, the a.m. specific needs of asymmetric warfare require sometimes even more range performance. High operating temperature (HOT) is introduced in the AIM MCT 640x512/15μm MWIR or LWIR modules for further reduction of cooler power consumption, shorter cooldown times and higher MTTF. As a key component to keep performance while further reducing SWaP AIM is developing a new cooled MCT IR-module with reduced pitch of 12 μm operating at a temperature >120 K. The module will provide full TV format with 640x480 elements sensitive in the MWIR spectral band. The paper will show recent results of AIM IR-modules with high operating temperature and the impact of design regarding the IR-module itself and thermal sights making use of it.

Citation Download Citation

R. Breiter, J. Wendler, H. Lutz, S. Rutzinger, T. Ihle, J. Ziegler, and I. Rühlich "High operating temperature IR-modules with reduced pitch for SWaP sensitive applications", Proc. SPIE 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII, 80122V (20 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884009

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