Novel Detector Technology for Challenging Time-Dependent Imaging Applications

Abstract

For most imaging applications, movement in the image is a concern after some exposure time threshold. The Advanced Imaging Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed three novel imaging devices to handle image motion in different ways. The orthogonal-transfer charge coupled device (CCD) is designed to image on scenes with continuous translational motions, such as those caused by camera vibration or first order atmospheric distortions. This device allows exposure times much longer than those allowed by a typical CCD imager, which, to avoid blur, must allow short exposure times. An electronic shutter has been developed for scientific CCDs. MIT Lincoln Laboratory has used this shutter to create an imager that captures, and stores in the pixel, several consecutive frames at 500 ns frame intervals while still having high quantum efficiency and low read noise. As a final example, an imager has been developed to record the time of arrival of the first photon to each pixel with time resolution of 250 ps. This imager utilizes a single-photon- sensitive Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (APD) array as the light- sensing layer. Each APD is connected to a high-speed digital timing circuit located directly below it. This imager has enabled construction of a flash LADAR system capable of creating three- dimensional images with 5 cm depth resolution.

Biography

Bernard B. Kosicki received a Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard in Solid State Physics. Dr. Kosicki has had various research and managerial positions in the electronics industry. In 1983 he joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory with responsibility for CCD technology development and yeild improvement, and he worked for over twenty years on a number of technology programs requiring advanced imaging concepts. During part of this period he served as Group Leader of the Advanced Imaging Technology Group.