SUI Awarded U.S. Air Force R&D Contract
Princeton, NJ -- SUI, Part Of Goodrich Corporation, a leading manufacturer of short-wave infrared cameras, announces a new USAF contract to research and design a communication device that can be added to their proprietary dual-spectrum camera. The company recently announced a new dual-wavelength Visible-InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) MiniCamera currently in use by the Department of Defense. The R&D contract will build upon this dual spectrum InGaAs technology that allows simultaneous imaging in two wavebands, visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR). The high resolution focal plane array (FPA) images using light from 400 nm to 1700 nm without distinguishing between the various wavelengths, producing a single, combined visible/SWIR infrared image. The uncooled Visible-InGaAs MiniCamera has no moving parts and is thermoelectrically temperature stabilized, so it is lightweight, compact and perfectly suited for helmet-mounted applications like imaging and communications.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded the new contract to develop an improved solid state, dual spectrum imager that doubles as a communication device. Three objectives under this R&D contract will be: To improve sensitivity in the visible waveband; to enable the camera to also function as a 1 GHz communication link by using a single pixel in the camera’s detector array; and to reduce pixel pitch from the camera’s current 40 µm pitch down to 15 µm. Although the contract parameters required a 25 x 25 pixel array, SUI, Part Of Goodrich Corporation will deliver a much higher resolution128 x128 pixel FPA and the camera electronics to run the enhanced array. These improvements will expand current night vision technology to foster a smarter, multi-function dual-wavelength video camera/communication tool.
According to Tara Martin, research engineer and project director for the $750,000 (Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant, “This contract underscores the military’s heightened interest in InGaAs SWIR technology.” She continues, “The InGaAs platform makes possible an intrinsically smaller, lighter, more robust and more economical dual spectrum camera that sees all eye-safe military laser illuminators, designators and now communication lasers.”
About SUI, Part Of Goodrich Corporation
SUI, Part Of Goodrich Corporation (SUI), founded in 1991 to pioneer design and production of near-infrared detectors, is the world leader in indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) imaging technology. With in-house capabilities, SUI, Part Of Goodrich Corporation manufactures advanced infrared cameras, short-wave and near-IR focal plane arrays and revolutionary high speed PIN and avalanche photodiodes. Their proprietary foundry and expertise delivers reliable, high performance products for a variety of critical military, security, industrial, commercial and telecommunications industries. Applications include covert surveillance, machine vision, night vision, health and safety protocols, historical art inspection and more.