Small SWaP TEC-less SWIR camera with current mirror pixel and temperature dependent non-uniformity corrections

Abstract

Previously, we have reported on advances made with our CTIA based TEC-less SWIR cameras [1, 2, 3, 4]. Here, we present our next generation TEC-less small SWaP SWIR cameras which are built upon a current mirror type pixel. The standard packaged FPAs are modified by replacing the TECs with copper shims. These FPAs are incorporated into cameras with similar electronics to our COTS cameras (CSX and JSX series), and then fully characterized from -30 °C to 60 °C. From these data, we developed algorithms that provide temperature-based corrections resulting in nonuniformity of approximately 0.5 % over the entire operating temperature. Additionally, over this range, the 640 x 512 resolution camera exhibited power consumption in the 1.2-1.3 W range, whereas the 1280 x 1024 camera exhibited power consumption in the 1.3-1.4 W range.