Publications
Development and application of spherically curved charge-coupled device imagers
Summary
Summary
Operation of a CCD imager on a curved focal surface offers advantages to flat focal planes, especially for lightweight, relatively simple optical systems. The first advantage is that the modulation transfer function can approach diffraction-limited performance for a spherical focal surface employed in large field-of-view or large-format imagers. The second...
Hybridization process for back-illuminated silicon Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays
Summary
Summary
We present a unique hybridization process that permits high-performance back-illuminated silicon Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) to be bonded to custom CMOS readout integrated circuits (ROICs) - a hybridization approach that enables independent optimization of the GM-APD arrays and the ROICs. The process includes oxide bonding of silicon GM-APD arrays to...
Geiger-mode quad-cell array for adaptive optics
Summary
Summary
We report an array of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors using high-fill-factor Geiger-mode avalanche detector quad cells hybridized to all-digital CMOS counting circuits. The absence of readout noise facilitates fast wavefront sensing at low light levels.
Orthogonal transfer arrays for wide-field adaptive imaging
Summary
Summary
The orthogonal transfer array (OTA) is a novel charge-coupled device (CCD) imager based on the orthogonal-transfer CCD (OTCCD). The OTCCD, in turn, is a device capable of charge transfer in all directions and has been developed for adaptive imaging in ground-based astronomy. By using a bright guide star as a...
Lincoln Laboratory high-speed solid-state imager technology
Summary
Summary
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) has been developing both continuous and burst solid-state focal-plane-array technology for a variety of high-speed imaging applications. For continuous imaging, a 128 ¿ 128-pixel charge coupled device (CCD) has been fabricated with multiple output ports for operating rates greater than 10,000 frames...
Laser radar imager based on 3D integration of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes with two SOI timing circuit layers
Summary
Summary
We have developed focal-plane arrays and laser-radar (ladar) imaging systems based on Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (APDs) integrated with high-speed all-digital CMOS timing circuits. A Geiger-mode APD produces a digital pulse upon detection of a single photon. This pulse is used to stop a fast digital counter in the pixel circuit...
High-fill-factor, burst-frame-rate charge-coupled device
Summary
Summary
A 512x512-element, multi-frame charge-coupled device (CCD) has been developed for collecting four sequential image frames at megahertz rates. To operate at fast frame rates with high sensitivity, the imager uses an electronic shutter technology developed for back-illuminated CCDs. Device-level simulations were done to estimate the CCD collection well spaces for...
High-speed, electronically shuttered solid-state imager technology
Summary
Summary
Electronically shuttered solid-state imagers are being developed for high-speed imaging applications. A 5 cmx5 cm, 512x512-element, multiframe charge-coupled device (CCD) imager has been fabricated for the Los Alamos National Laboratory DARHT facility that collects four sequential image frames at megahertz rates. To operate at fast frame rates with high sensitivity...
Broadband (200-1000 nm) back-illuminated ccd imagers
Summary
Summary
Improved and stable blue/UV quantum efficiency has been demonstrated on 2Kx4K imagers using molecular-beam epitaxy to create a thin doped layer on the back surface. Quantum efficiency data on thick (40-50 pm) imagers with single and dual-layer anti-reflection coatings is presented that demonstrates high and broadband response. Measurements of the...
Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes for three-dimensional imaging
Summary
Summary
We discuss the properties of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and their use in developing an imaging laser radar (ladar). This type of photodetector gives a fast electrical pulse in response to the detection of even a single photon, allowing for sub-nsec-precision photon-flight-time measurement. We present ongoing work at Lincoln Laboratory...