Award Data

To satisfy the need for a radiation-hardened, 1064-nm laser sensitive, single-photon sensitive ladar camera, with pixel counts of 128 x 128 or more, a proven single-photon linear-mode InGaAs(P)/InAlAs avalanche-photodiode (APD) detector will be integrated with low-noise ladar readout integrated circuits (ROICs), and its performance will be shown compatible with missile defense mission requirements ...

Current focal plane array (FPA) technologies for imaging in low-light conditions in the short wave infrared (SWIR) are limited by poor quantum efficiency and/or poor noise characteristics. To address this need, a new SWIR-sensitive linear-mode avalanche photodiode detector array, will be optimized for low-light imaging, fabricated, and demonstrated. Unlike existing SWIRavalanche photodiodes (APDs) ...

A 1280 x 1024, 12-micron-pitch format radiation-hardened dual-band digital infrared readout integrated circuit (ROIC) will be developed. The features of the reconfigurable adaptive detector integrated circuit (RadIC) include: low-noise in-pixel amplifiers, in-pixel analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), extended > 22-bit dynamic range with temporal-photon flux-rate encoding, high-rate readout, and as ...

The identification and tracking of objects of interest to the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) depends upon detection, measurement/classification, and visualization of the radiation emitted by these objects. Since BMDS operation is strongly tied to imagery, the input of synthetic imagery that resembles operational scenarios is one way to test its functionality. It is crucial that such s ...

The applicant will develop a wave energy harvesting system for NOAA buoys. It will ve entirely self-contained (no protruding elements), modular, scalable, and easily deployed. The system employs a unique, inertial mechanism that responds to acceleration forces created by waves. This mechanism will be combined with (1) a proprietary generator that is sensitive to very low levels of torque and ha ...

There is a need for a high-resolution two-dimensional focal plane array (FPA) with single photon sensitivity (SPS), pulse amplitude storage, and GHz bit rates that can record both the time (with 10 bits) from multiple returns from a single laser pulse. Such a system has the potential to significantly reduce LADAR size, weight, and power (SWAP) by alleviating the laser requirements. In this program ...

New, modular radiation hard [>300 kRad (Si)] ROIC designs are required to address the needs of planned ballistic missile defense system. Anticipating the needs for large formats, small pixel sizes, and multiple spectral bands, the features of an existing radiation-hard space imager ROIC will be used to develop the design of an extensible 1024 × 1024, 15-μm pixel ROIC design. The design includes ...

Future seekers of the future will need to allow for multiple targets and various advanced countermeasures, likely including a dual-mode component to do so. A Dual Mode Seeker (DMS) has at least an infrared (IR) Focal Plane Array (FPA) as well as an active means to capture target range and preferably 3-D imagery. Future technology insertion will benefit from a monolithic dual mode focal plane, wher ...

A 128 x 128-format avalanche photodiode (APD) focal plane array (FPA), including a low-power dual-mode readout integrated circuit (ROIC) and low excess noise, high gain (M>1,200) will be developed for laser radar (LADAR) applications requiring reduced SWAP. The FPA gives LADAR seekers an advanced active tracking sensor capability, providing a sufficiently wide field of regard (FOR) to eliminate th ...

A radiation-hard, 1064-nm sensitive, single-photon-sensitive avalanche photodiode (APD) detector with photon detection efficiency (PDE) and dark count rate (DCR) superior to state-of-the-art Geiger-mode APDs, and with two orders of magnitude faster maximum count rate (MCR) will be developed. Geiger APDs are constrained by a fundamental tradeoff between DCR and MCR: if the APD is cooled to reduce D ...