An uncooled VGA-IRFPA with novel readout architecture

[摘要] An uncooled VGA Infrared Focal Plane Array (IRFPA) based on microbolometerswith a pixel pitch of 25 μm for thermal imaging applications ispresented. The IRFPA has a 16-bit digital video data output at a frame rateof 30 Hz. Thousands of Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs) are located underthe microbolometer array. One ADC consists of a Sigma-Delta-Modulator (SDM)of 2nd order and a decimation filter. It is multiplexed for a certainamount of microbolometers arranged in a so called "cluster". In the1st stage of the SDM the microbolometer current is integratedtime-continuously. The feedback is applied using a switchable currentsource. First measurements of Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD)as a key parameter for IRFPAs will be presented.

[学科分类] 电子、光学、磁材料