Expanded applications for high performance VOx microbolometer FPAs

ABSTRACT RVS is producing high-quality microbolometer FPAs with 25 µm pixels. We have developed formats in both 320 x 240 and 640 x 480 a rray formats. These FPAs have demonstrated sensitivities that are comparable to microbolometer FPAs with 50 µm pixels with the best measured NETD value for these FPAs now <25mK with an f/1 aperture and operating at 30 Hz frame rates. Pixel operability is greater than 99.9% on most FPAs, and uncorrected responsivity nonuniformity is less than 3% (sigma/mean). These 25 µm microbolometer detectors also have a relatively fast thermal time constant of approximately 10 msec. These arrays have produced excellent image quality, and are currently fielded in a variety of systems. We will report on our latest performance data and IR captive flight test imagery. We will also show data on 25µm arrays that have been designed for faster time constants (5 msec), while maintaining high performance. RVS is also developing a 320 x 240 50µm mi d-wave responding FPA. We will review the MWIR sensitivity improvements with this array and provide IR imagery. RVS is developing a 640 x 480 25µm uncooled FPA for a countermine detection application using a two-band assembly designed to be sensitive in both the Restrahlen and Thermal spectral bands. We will provide IR image data on these arrays. RVS has made a significant breakthrough in the development of a 640 x 512 array with a unit cell size of 20 µm x 20 µm, and performance approaching that of the 25µm arrays. The successful development of this array is the first step in achieving mega-pixel formats. This FPA is designed to ultimately achieve performance near the temperature fluxuation limited NETD (<20mK, f/1, 30 Hz). We will show updated perfo rmance and imagery on these arrays, which is currently being measured at <45mK, f/1, 30 Hz.