A 320x256 HgCdTe avalanche photodiode focal plane array for passive and active 2D and 3D imaging

CEA-Leti has developed a dual mode infrared array detector for passive (thermal) or active 2D and 3D imaging. Very high sensitivity in 3D mode of operation is achieved by using an HgCdTe avalanche photodiode array with linear gain. The 30 μm pitch detector array is hybridized to a 320x256 pixels Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC). In passive mode, the 3.6x10 6 e- well capacity and the low noise of the ROIC allow to reach photon noise limited NETD. For active imaging mode, each pixel measures the time of arrival (3D) and the intensity (2D) of one laser pulse. A sensor based on a detector array with a cut off wavelength of 4.6μm at 80K was fabricated and tested. This paper describes the pixel architecture and presents ranging performances obtained in laboratory conditions. The first 2D and 3D active videos obtained during a field trial of our focal plane array are presented.