A novel uncooled long-wave infrared imaging technology with optical readout is proposed and developed targeted for low cost thermal imaging applications. This technology uses the thermo-optic effect in a semiconductor to detect infrared signals rather than the thermal-resistance effect used in traditional microbolometers. The key component of the imager, the focal plane array, is made up of thermally tunable thin film filter membrane pixels. Each thermal pixel acts as a wavelength translator, converting far infrared radiation signals into near infrared signals which are then detectable by off-the-shelf CCD or CMOS cameras. This approach utilizes optical filter and MEMS technologies, to build a low-cost passive long wavelength infrared focal plane array without electrical leads or active cooling. Within one year since the commencement, NETD values of 0.28K in a 160x120 array operating at 22Hz video frame rate have been achieved without temperature control.
KEYWORDS: Optical filters, Tunable filters, Electronic filtering, Tunable lasers, Signal detection, Signal attenuation, Sensors, Polarization, Semiconducting wafers, Control systems
The advantages of low cost amplifier solutions in single-channel link extender or loss compensator systems cannot be fully realized unless the ASE noise around the signal peak is removed. Doing so requires a cost-effective solution with high performance, including low insertion loss (<-2.5dB), low PDL (<-0.25dB), low power operation (<200mW), and fast tuning (<1sec). We have successfully fabricated and packaged a tunable ASE filter into a small form-factor 2-port package which meets these requirements. We obtain filter properties at both the chip and package-levels and examine filter performance operating under optically open and closed loop control.
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