Multimode focal plane array with electrically isolated commons for independent sub-array biasing
AssigneeTeledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
InventorWilliam E. Tennant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a multimode FPA, all of the FPA's conducting layers including all of the absorbing layers are patterned to form electrically isolated commons for at least two, and in some instances all of the photodetector sub-arrays, to support independent mode biasing of the photodetectors. Because the commons are electrically isolated, the bias voltages are not constrained by the CMOS design rules. The commons can accommodate large bias amplitude differences and different temporal bias profiles to address a wide range of multimode sensing applications.
Claims24
A multimode focal plane array (EPA), comprising a detector array with at least first and second sub-arrays of photodetectors having grooves in the detector array, at least some of said grooves arranged to define first and second electrically isolated commons, said first and second sub-arrays configured to detect incident radiation in different modes with photodetectors of said first and second sub-arrays co-located in at least one image pixel to produce a registered multimode image, wherein said photodetectors within said first sub-array share said first common and said photodetectors within said second sub-array share said second common, said first and second commons providing electrical isolation between said first and second sub-arrays.
A multimode focal plane array (EPA), comprising:
- a multimode detector array comprising first and second sub-arrays of photodetectors that are co-located within image pixels to detect incident radiation in different modes, said first and second sub-arrays having grooves in the detector array, at least some of said grooves arranged to define first and second electrically isolated commons, said photodetectors in said first sub-array sharing said first common and said photodetectors in said second array sharing said second common;
- and
- a readout integrated circuit (ROTC) with an insulated contact structure that permits application of first and second bias voltages to said first and second electrically isolated commons and reads out signals from the co-located photodetectors to produce a registered multimode image.
A multimode active-passive detection system, comprising:
- a focal plane array (EPA) comprising first and second sub-arrays of photodetectors that are co-located within image pixels and absorb IR radiation at first and second wavelengths, respectively, said first and second sub-arrays having grooves in the EPA, at least some of said grooves arranged to define first and second electrically isolated commons, said first sub-array of photodetectors sharing said first common and said second sub-array of photodetectors sharing said second common;
- a source for illuminating an object with an IR signal at said first wavelength;
- an external lens behind the EPA that focuses active IR radiation at the first wavelength reflected off of the object and passive IR radiation emitted from the object at a second wavelength onto the EPA;
- a microlens that separates the radiation into the first and second wavelengths and directs the radiation to the photodetectors in the first and second sub-arrays;
- and
- a readout integrated circuit (ROTC) that permits application of first and second bias voltages to said first and second electrically isolated commons and reads out IR levels from the co-located photodetectors to produce a registered multimode image of both active and passive IR radiation from the object.
A multimode focal plane array (EPA), comprising:
- an insulating substrate;
- an absorbing layer stack including at least one layer of material that absorbs radiation;
- doped regions in exposed portions of the at least one layer that define photodetectors therein for first and second sub-arrays co-located in each of at least one image pixel;
- and
- grooves through said stack to the substrate that separate the first and second sub-arrays and define first and second electrically isolated commons in said stack for the respective sub-arrays, said first sub-array of photodetectors sharing said first common and said second sub-array of photodetectors sharing said second common.
A multimode focal plane array (FPA), comprising:
- a multimode detector array including, an absorbing layer stack including at least one layer of material that absorbs radiation;
- doped regions in exposed portions of the at least one layer that define photodetectors therein for first and second sub-arrays co-located in each of at least one image pixel;
- grooves through said stack that separate the first and second sub-arrays and define first and second electrically isolated commons in said stack for the respective sub-arrays, said first sub-array of photodetectors sharing said first common and said second sub-array of photodetectors sharing said second common;
- and
- a readout integrated circuit (ROTC) on the detector array, said ROTC including an insulated contact structure that permits application of first and second bias voltages to said first and second electrically isolated commons and reads out signals from the co-located photodetectors to produce a registered multimode image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.