US 11,606,515 B2 · Methods and systems for active SWIR imaging using germanium receivers

Abstract

Systems and methods for imaging in the short wave infrared (SWIR), photodetectors with low dark current and associated circuits for reducing dark currents and methods for generating image information based on data of a photodetector array. A SWIR imaging system may include a pulsed illumination source operative to emit radiation pulses in the SWIR band towards a target resulting in reflected radiation from the target; (b) an imaging receiver including a plurality of Ge PDs operative to detect the reflected SWIR radiation and a controller, operative to control activation of the receiver for an integration time during which the accumulated dark current noise does not exceed the time independent readout noise.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An active short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging system, comprising:

a pulsed illumination source operative to emit SWIR radiation pulses towards a target, the radiation pulses impinging on the target resulting in reflected SWIR radiation pulses reflected from the target;
an imaging receiver comprising a plurality of Germanium (Ge) photodiodes (PDs) operative to detect the reflected SWIR radiation, wherein the imaging receiver produces for each Ge PD a respective detection signal representative of the reflected SWIR radiation impinging on the respective Ge PD, a dark current that is larger than 50 μA/cm2, a time dependent dark current noise and a time independent readout noise;
and
a controller operative to control activation of the imaging receiver for an integration time during which an accumulated dark current noise does not exceed the time independent readout noise.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and systems for active SWIR imaging using germanium receivers

Life of this patent

Methods and systems for active SWIR imaging using germanium receivers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20