Infrared radiation imager having sub-pixelization and detector interdigitation
AssigneeDRS Sensors & Targeting Systems, Inc.
InventorsArvind D'Souza, Maryn Stapelbroek, Larry Dawson, Dale Molyneux
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Abstract
An infrared radiation (“IR”) focal plane array (“FPA”) imager includes a detector array chip containing pixels having substantially one-hundred percent operability. Each of the pixels contains a plurality of interdigitated sub-detectors, where the sub-detectors are selectively operable to provide for collection of photogenerated minority charges representative of all or substantially all of the IR radiation absorbed by the detector array chip of the FPA imager.
Claims20
A pixel for use in a detector array of a focal plane array imager, the pixel comprising:
- a plurality of interdigitated sub-detectors, wherein a first of the sub-detectors includes at least one minority charge collector electrically coupled to a first metal trace, wherein at least a second of the sub-detectors includes at least one minority charge collector electrically coupled to a second metal trace, wherein each of the minority charge collectors is included in no more than a single sub-detector, wherein each of the sub-detectors is selectively operable (i) in a selected mode to collect minority charges and (ii) in a deselected mode to act as an open circuit, and
- wherein the first sub-detector and the at least second sub-detector are interdigitated in the pixel such that, if at least one of the first sub-detector and the at least second sub-detector is deselected, the selected sub-detector or sub-detectors in the pixel collect substantially all minority charges generated in the pixel resulting from absorption of optical energy in the pixel.
A focal plane array (“FPA”) in an infrared imager, wherein the FPA contains a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels comprises:
- a plurality of interdigitated sub-detectors, wherein a first of the sub-detectors includes at least one minority charge collector electrically coupled to a first metal trace, wherein at least a second of the sub-detectors includes at least one minority charge collector electrically coupled to a second metal trace, wherein each of the minority charge collectors is included in no more than a single sub-detector, wherein each of the sub-detectors is selectively operable (i) in a selected mode to collect minority charges and (ii) in a deselected mode to act as an open circuit, and
- wherein the first sub-detector and the at least second sub-detector are interdigitated in each of the pixels such that, if at least one of the first sub-detector and the at least second sub-detector is deselected, the selected sub-detector or sub-detectors in the pixel collect substantially all minority charges generated in the pixel resulting from absorption of optical energy in the pixel.
A method of imaging a scene comprising:
- providing a focal plane array (“FPA”) including a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels in the FPA includes:
- a plurality of interdigitated sub-detectors, wherein a first of the sub-detectors includes at least one minority charge collector electrically coupled to a first metal trace, wherein at least a second of the sub-detectors includes at least one minority charge collector electrically coupled to a second metal trace, wherein each of the minority charge collectors is included in no more than a single sub-detector, wherein each of the sub-detectors is selectively operable (i) in a selected mode to collect minority charges and (ii) in a deselected mode to act as an open circuit;
- operating any sub-detector in the FPA having an inoperable minority charge collector in the deselected mode and operating all other sub-detectors in the selected mode;
- and
- for each of the pixels in the FPA, collecting at the sub-detectors operating in selected mode all or substantially all minority charges generated resulting from absorption of optical energy in the pixel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.