Infrared sensors for Earth observation missions

P. Ashcroft; P. Thorne; H. Weller; I. Baker

doi:10.1117/12.754793

17 October 2007 Infrared sensors for Earth observation missions

P. Ashcroft, P. Thorne, H. Weller, I. Baker

Proceedings Volume 6744, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XI; 67440W (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.754793
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2007, Florence, Italy

Abstract

SELEX S&AS is developing a family of infrared sensors for earth observation missions. The spectral bands cover shortwave infrared (SWIR) channels from around 1μm to long-wave infrared (LWIR) channels up to 15μm. Our mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) technology has enabled a sensor array design that can satisfy the requirements of all of the SWIR and medium-wave infrared (MWIR) bands with near-identical arrays. This is made possible by the combination of a set of existing technologies that together enable a high degree of flexibility in the pixel geometry, sensitivity, and photocurrent integration capacity. The solution employs a photodiode array under the control of a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). The ROIC allows flexible geometries and in-pixel redundancy to maximise operability and reliability, by combining the photocurrent from a number of photodiodes into a single pixel. Defective or inoperable diodes (or "sub-pixels") can be deselected with tolerable impact on the overall pixel performance. The arrays will be fabricated using the "loophole" process in MCT grown by liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE). These arrays are inherently robust, offer high quantum efficiencies and have been used in previous space programs. The use of loophole arrays also offers access to SELEX's avalanche photodiode (APD) technology, allowing low-noise, highly uniform gain at the pixel level where photon flux is very low.

Citation Download Citation

P. Ashcroft, P. Thorne, H. Weller, and I. Baker "Infrared sensors for Earth observation missions", Proc. SPIE 6744, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XI, 67440W (17 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.754793

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KEYWORDS

Sensors

Diodes

Readout integrated circuits

Avalanche photodetectors

Short wave infrared radiation

Infrared sensors

Signal to noise ratio

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