Optical crosstalk in division of focal plane imagers

Abstract

Recent technology advancements in imaging technology has led to the commercialization of the first color-polarization imaging sensor. This technological feat is enabling development of new imaging applications and algorithms, which were not possible without this technology. However, when we compare several attributes between state-of-the-art color and polarization imaging technology, several shortcomings are evident in the polarization technology. First, the pixel pitch of today’s color technology is around 0.8 microns. The most advanced polarization imager utilized 3.5-micron pixel pitch – color imaging technology achieved this pixel pitch more than 10 years ago. However, today’s color imaging technology is plagued with optical and electrical cross talk. Although signal processing algorithms mitigate some of these effects, color technology is less stringent on the efficacy of these algorithms. Polarization imaging technology is fundamentally different from color and is more dependent on crosstalk. In this paper, we present theoretical data on how cross talk affects polarization accuracy.