Large Format Uncooled Focal Plane Array

Uncooled focal plane array (FPA) technology has evolved such that good performance can be achieved in the long wavelength infrared with 17 micron pixel pitch if noise is not limited by readout circuits. Improved bolometer bias and signal processing readout circuitry was demonstrated by design and analysis on Phase I to achieve high performance in small pixels. These circuits will interface with high responsivity detectors over wide temperature ranges to demonstrate 640x480 a-SiGe FPAs on Phase II with 17 micron pixel pitch, NETD (F/1.4) < 20 mK and time constant < 5 msec. This allows high performance in small pixels and larger array formats to provide wide field of view imaging at long range with smaller optics.