Compact uncooled amorphous silicon 160x120 IRFPA with 25 μm pixel-pitch for large volume applications

Abstract

This paper reviews specifications and performances of a 160 x 120 uncooled infrared focal plane array made from amorphous silicon micro bolometer with a pixel-pitch of 25 μm, integrated in a LCC package. This detector has been specifically designed for being produced in large volume. The detector has kept all the innovations developed on the full TV format ROIC (detector configuration by serial link, low power consumption or wide electrical dynamic range... ) and offers an advanced TEC-less focal plane array well adapted to low end thermal imaging cameras. The specific appeal of this unit lies in the miniaturization of the packaging and its extremely light weight.In the last part of the paper, we will look more closely at electro-optical performances of this TEC-less product 160 x 120 as well as the other 25 μm products like the 384 x 288. We will insist on the wide thermal dynamic range and the low consumption achieved thanks to the mastering of the amorphous silicon technology coupled with the innovation in the ROIC design.