SBIR-STTR Award

Lidar operates as a pair of synchronized photon emitter and receiver, where the receiver detects the emitted photons reflected from the target. The photon emission is temporally modulated into pulses, and the receiver detects the temporal modulation in the reflected photons and derives target range information, similar to the radar. The most common temporal modulation in lidars is by laser pulses and synchronized time-of-flight range detection. The detection range is limited by the power of the photon source, optical aperture size and receiver sensitivity. The detection dynamic range (DR) must be very high to simultaneously accommodate reflections from targets near and far. The proposed uncooled Photon-Sensing Integrated Circuit (PSIC) is an ultra-high-sensitivity, low-noise, high- DR and time-gated photodetector for 475nm lidars. We plan to prove the concept of (during Phase I) and prototype and deliver (during Phase II) the proposed uncooled, centimeter-sized, ultra-high-sensitivity, low-noise, high-DR, time-gated PSIC photodetector and receiver for 475nm lidars. During Phase I and Phase II, we will (i) iteratively optimize, fabricate and characterize the PSIC of enhanced performance for photon-starved, high-DR and time-gated sensing in the 475nm spectral band, (ii) integrate with commercial-off-the-shelf transimpedance amplifier, and (iii) deliver the integrated PSIC receiver to DoD.

Benefit:
Besides defense applications including passive and active night vision for military surveillance and target recognition, the proposed PSIC technology also finds commercial applications in security, law enforcement, border patrol, scientific instruments, laser detection, laser eye protection, biomedical imaging, prosthetic vision aid, ecosystem monitoring and protection, manufacturing quality control and consumer electronics cameras. We will concentrate on our commercial medical prosthetic vision aid device products at present.

Keywords:
photon sensor, photon sensor, 475 nm lidar, 460-490 nm wavelength band, high quantum efficiency (QE), photo-detector, centimeter-sized photon detector and receiver, photo multiplier tube (PMT)

Lidar operates as a pair of synchronized photon emitter and receiver, where the receiver detects the emitted photons reflected from the target. The photon emission is temporally modulated into pulses, and the receiver detects the temporal modulation in the reflected photons and derives target range information, similar to the radar. The most common temporal modulation in lidars is by laser pulses and synchronized time-of-flight range detection. The detection range is limited by the power of the photon source, optical aperture size and receiver sensitivity. The detection dynamic range (DR) must be very high to simultaneously accommodate reflections from targets near and far. The proposed uncooled Photon-Sensing Integrated Circuit (PSIC) is an ultra-high-sensitivity, low-noise, high-DR and time-gated photodetector for 475nm lidars. Having proven the concept during Phase I, we plan to prototype and deliver during Phase II the proposed uncooled, centimeter-sized, ultra-high-sensitivity, low-noise, high-DR, time-gated PSIC photodetector and receiver for 475nm lidars. Continuing from Phase I, we will (i) iteratively optimize, fabricate and characterize the PSIC of enhanced performance for photon-starved, high-DR and time-gated sensing in the 475nm spectral band, (ii) integrate with commercial-off-the-shelf trans-impedance amplifier, and (iii) deliver the integrated PSIC receiver to DoD during Phase II.