SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Proposal Number:

08.03-0610

Project Title:

A MONOLITHIC, ACTIVE PIXEL INGAAS NEAR INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAY

Technical Abstract:

SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION FORM 9.B - PROJECT SUMMARY Subtopic Last 4 digits Change Number of Firm's Letter Phone # PROPOSAL NUMBER 95-1 08.03 0610 _ (Inst. on Reverse Side) PROJECT TITLE "A Monolithic, Active Pixel InGaAs Near Infrared Focal Plane Array" TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS) We propose to develop a monolithic near-infrared (NIR) focal plane array (FPA) based on the InGaAsP alloy system. Major innovations include development of an active pixel architecture to improve the performance of lattice-mismatched InGaAs, sensitivity over the 1.0 - 2.5 m NIR wavelength band, and monolithic integration of the photodiodes, active pixel circuitry, pixel-selection switches, and self-scanning shift registers. These are highly ambitious goals and draw upon the progress of earlier NASA and DOD programs in which we demonstrated a hybrid FPA with an InGaAs photodiode array mated to a silicon CMOS readout multiplexer and, more recently, monolithically integrated InGaAs photodiodes with InP switching FETs in a 16x16 pixel direct detector injection FPA. In Phase I, we will fabricate and characterize InP FETs for analog performance, model and select an active pixel architecture, and design a monolithic device to be fabricated during Phase II. The Phase II device will be a 16x16 pixel FPA with monolithically integrated active pixels and readout switches, hybrid integrated to silicon CMOS shift registers. Professor Stephen Forrest of Princeton University's ATC/POEM will play an important role in this Program.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The near-infrared is an important wavelength band for imaging applications such as astronomical observations, spectroscopy, industrial thermal imaging, and remote sensing. All of these would benefit in performance, manufacturability, and cost reduction from the advances emerging from this Program. An NIR Camera with a price tag below $5,000 would be a distinct possibility.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
3490 U.S Route 1, Building 12
Princeton, NJ 08540