Sensitive operation of passive sensors in a radiation environment requires a means to eliminate the signals caused by ionizing radiation. Black Forest Engineering proposes a signal processing technique to delete these gamma-spike signals that can be integrated into each unit cell of an infrared… More

The long term objective is to develop x-ray systems that will minimize x-ray radiation dose to the patient during clinical diagnosis and routine screening, while maximizing the usefulness of data by applying advanced sensing and signal processing techniques. Near theoretical limit x-ray sensitivity… More

Uncooled focal plane arrays have improved dramatically and array sizes of 320x240 elements in a 50-?m pitch are commercially available at affordable cost. Black Forest Engineering proposes to design a readout integrated circuit to allow fabrication of a large format 1024x768 element uncooled sensor.… More

Black Forest Engineering has identified innovative modifications in uncooled focal plane array (UFPA) architecture and processing that allows development of large format long wavelength infrared (8-14 ?m) imaging sensors to meet future NASA system requirements for a light weight, low power, and… More

Uncooled Focal Plane Array (UFPA) technology has evolved such that high performance can be achieved in both the medium wavelength infrared (MWIR 3-5 micron) and long wavelength infrared (LWIR 8-14 micron) bands. The main reason for this performance improvement has been increased thermal isolation of… More

Resistive bolometer capability has evolved such that low noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) can be achieved on a single focal plane array in both the 3-5 µm (MWIR) and 8-13 µm (BBIR) wavelength bands. The objective of this Phase II development is to build a prototype infrared camera… More

Uncooled focal plane array technology, based on micro-bolometer thermal detectors, has evolved such that high performance can be achieved in both the medium wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long wavelength infrared (LWIR) bands with small pixel pitch, large array format and fast thermal time constant.… More

Improved interceptor seeker capability to detect, identify, and discriminate re-entry vehicles (RV's) from countermeasures at distances of hundreds of kilometers is critical for missile defense. Development of an advanced infrared seeker combining high-spatial resolution with multiband detection for… More

Uncooled focal plane array (FPA) technology has evolved such that high performance is achieved in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) band with small pixel pitch. Small pitch, = 17 um, allows reduction in optics size and weight. Innovative folded reflective optics allows further reduction in optics… More

Uncooled focal plane array (FPA) technology has evolved such that high performance is achieved in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) with small pixel pitch and fast time constant. Small pitch allows high resolution with reduction in optics size and weight. Black Forest Engineering (BFE) has… More

Future space-based observatories imaging in the 4-40 ýým spectral regime will be passively cooled. The objective of this research effort is to demonstrate near theoretical performance of bolometer-based infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs) covering the 4-40 ýým wavelength region by operating the… More

Uncooled focal plane array (FPA) technology, based on a-Si:H micro-bolometer thermal detectors, has evolved such that high performance can be achieved with small pixel pitch, large array format and fast thermal time constant. This improved FPA sensor technology allows development of miniaturized… More

Instruments employing X-ray detection are countless, in different sectors from medicine to industry and from basic to applied science. Given this importance, and despite existing technologies, there is still need for X-ray detection with increased system performance. The solid-state detector array… More

Uncooled focal plane array (FPA) technology has evolved such that good performance can be achieved in the long wavelength infrared with 17 micron pixel pitch if noise is not limited by readout circuits. Improved bolometer bias and signal processing readout circuitry was demonstrated by design and… More

The solid-state detector array is the primary technology to implement the current generation of space borne high-energy astronomy missions that are managed by NASA in partnership with the international community. Readout integrated circuitry (ROIC) specifically designed for photon resolving X-ray… More

Small UAVs have more than proven their value in the military world and will also be utilized for homeland applications such as border security, law enforcement and situational awareness. Future micro-UAVs (MUAVs) will offer greater utility and lower cost and at the same time require reduced size,… More

Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requires high performance, high sensitivity and low noise infrared sensors for space based sensing applications that operate in environments where radiation hardness is essential to mission operation. Radiation hard by design (RHBD) readout integrated circuits (ROICs)… More

Thermopile arrays manufactured using integrated process compatible materials and micro-machining will provide high performance with low manufacturing cost. Black Forest Engineering (BFE) teamed with Case Western Reserve University will design thermopiles using silicon based semiconductors and… More

The Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) will provide a better understanding as to how gas giant planets and their satellites form and evolve. The Jupiter Europa Orbiter (JEO) is the NASA element of the EJSM. JEO will be built to withstand the intense radiation in Europa orbit and the JEO payload… More

The Dual Band Compact Hyperspectral Imager (DBCHI) delivers high performance, co-registered, simultaneous MWIR & LWIR hyperspectral data from a compact, man-portable sensor. The DBCHI sensor currently employs a dual band focal plane array (FPA) designed to operate in a broadband flux environment.… More

Foreign missile threat will increase as ballistic missile technology becomes available on an international scale. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requires high performance, high sensitivity and low noise infrared sensors for space based sensing applications that operate in environments where radiation… More

Black Forest Engineering has developed readout integrated circuit (ROIC) methods that provide large charge integration capability in a small pixel pitch. A small pixel pitch allows high image resolution and large image formats with significant reduction in optics size and weight. The large charge… More

The NASA Jupiter Europa Orbiter (JEO) conceptual payload contains a thermal instrument with six different spectral bands ranging from 8µm to 100ìm. The thermal instrument is based on multiple linear arrays of thermopile detectors that are intrinsically radiation hard; however, the thermopile… More

NASA has developed space-based thermal instrument spectrometers based on thermopile detectors linear arrays that are intrinsically radiation hard. Micro-bolometers are known to offer very high sensitivity due to high thermal isolation and low thermal mass however are at present inferior to… More

Black Forest Engineering (BFE) has developed readout integrated circuit (ROIC) methods that provide large charge integration capability in a small pixel pitch. Small pixel pitch allows high image resolution and large image formats with significant reduction in optics size and weight. The large… More

The Dual Band Compact Hyperspectral Imager (DBCHI) delivers high performance, co-registered medium and long wavelength hyperspectral data from a compact, man-portable sensor. The existing DBCHI dual band focal plane array (FPA) is designed to operate in a broadband tactical flux environment, uses a… More

Thermopile infrared linear arrays manufactured using CMOS integrated circuit processes and micro-machining will provide high performance sensing with low manufacturing cost. Black Forest Engineering (BFE) teamed with Case Western Reserve University will d

Dual band infrared sensors are important components for future ballistic missile defense systems. Digital readout integrated circuits (DROICs), compared to analog ROIC architectures, allow on-chip processing, increased dynamic range and increased signal to noise ratio. Deep submicron CMOS provides… More