High performance ladar focal plane arrays for 3D range imaging

Abstract

We have developed high-speed ladar read out integrated circuits (ROIC) and high performance detector arrays for high-resolution 3D range imaging applications. Our focal plane array imagers are based on direct detection ladar architecture that provides the 3D shape of objects in a single laser pulse. We have demonstrated a 64/spl times/64 element, 100-/spl mu/m pixel pitch CMOS ROIC having low noise (40e-) and high analog bandwidth (115 MHz) for short pulse laser signal detection at long ranges. The read out chip allows in-pixel range thresholding and capturing of the time gated intensity profiles of the ladar echoes. The readout can accommodate either p-i-n diode or avalanche photodiode (APD) detector arrays operating in the visible through IR spectral bands. We discuss the status of recent detector and focal plane array developments for the SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands. We will also review our recent field test results of the SWIR 64/spl times/64 element focal plane array demonstrating the capability of discriminating object separations of about 0.5-m.