SBIR-STTR Award

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Low Light Short Wave Infrared Focal Plane Arrays
Award last edited on: 1/4/2019

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : MDA
Total Award Amount
$1,068,077
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
MDA15-022
Principal Investigator
Stephen Gaalema

Company Information

Black Forest Engineering Inc (AKA: BFE~BFE Acquisition Sub II LLC)

12930 Morris Trail
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
   (719) 593-9501
   info@bfe.com
   www.bfe.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 05
County: El Paso

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2015
Phase I Amount
$104,267
Current large format focal plane array (FPA) imaging sensors for imaging in low-light conditions in the near infrared / short wavelength infrared (NIR/SWIR) regions are limited by poor signal-to-noise. Electron avalanche photodiodes (e-APDs) using HgCdTe provide internal gain with very little excess noise and allow high signal-to-noise in low-light conditions. Cooling the e-APD SWIR FPA to 77K reduces detector dark current. In Phase I, Black Forest Engineering (BFE) proposes to design a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) compatible with HgCdTe e-APDs in a large array format that will meet or exceed performance goals identified in topic. (Approved for Public Release 15-MDA-8482 (17 November 15))

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2017
Phase II Amount
$963,810
Current large format focal plane array (FPA) imaging sensors for imaging in low-light conditions in the near infrared / short wavelength infrared (NIR/SWIR) regions are limited by poor signal-to-noise. Electron avalanche photodiodes (e-APDs) using HgCdTe provide internal gain with very little excess noise and allow high signal-to-noise in low-light conditions. The readout integrated circuit (ROIC), with digital readout, utilizes radiation hardness by design (RHBD) and tolerates high radiation environments. In Phase II, Black Forest Engineering (BFE) will develop a low light NIR/SWIR FPA in a large array format and small pixel pitch that will meet or exceed performance goals identified in the topic. Approved for Public Release | 16-MDA-8951 (15 December 16)