Description: The proposed effort addresses a need expressed in Topic S11.04 Sensor and Detector Technologies for Visible, Infrared (IR), Far-IR, and Submillimeter, for photodiode arrays with in-pixel DROIC for high-dynamic-range IR imaging focal plane arrays to circumvent the limitations in charge capacity, by using in-pixel digital counters that can provide orders of magnitude larger effective well depth, thereby affording longer integration times needed for Earth-science applications in the infrared (IR) and far-IR regimes. The effort focusses on developing a high charge capacity ROIC optimized for sensing in the MWIR and LWIR bands, suitable for all typical detector types used for these bands, such as (but not limited to) quantum well IR photodetectors (QWIP), HgCdTe (MCT), III-V quaternary bulk detectors and strained-layer superlattice (SLS) detectors. Traditional analog pixel ROICs, although power-efficient, have charge capacity limitations due to the limit on the size of the capacitor that can be fit in a pixel. Digital pixel ROICs (DROIC) have an analog to digital converter (ADC) in the pixel to overcome the charge capacity limit, but at the expense of very high power. There are no known ROICs capable of achieving the high dynamic range requirements in NASA's advanced earth observing missions while fitting within power budget restrictions. The proposed SAAZ ROIC will feature several innovations to address the challenge by creating an adaptive high dynamic range (HDR) digital pixel based ROIC. The SAAZ team, with extensive space mission experience, is leveraging a close working relationship with NASA to develop an optimal ROIC solution for the high flux thermal band. The proposed adaptive high dynamic range ROIC will provide the desired high well capacity, a high frame rate, a large format, space qualifiable design, while simultaneously keeping the cold space power very low, making it suitable for space missions.

Benefits: There is an established need for a readily available, low cost, low noise, high performance Read-Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) to support a variety of NASA's earth observing (and planetary science) missions such as LANDSAT, Fire spectral imaging (e.g. c-FIRST), other land imaging missions (SLI technology development), and commercial low-cost land imaging. SAAZ proposes to develop a workhorse ROIC compatible with a variety of detectors from MWIR through LWIR bands for upcoming missions with high dynamic range, low power, and high reliability mission needs. Very hot scenes, such as fires, can be imaged by this adaptive ROIC without saturation, while simultaneously imaging cold surrounding with high fidelity, which is neither possible using contemporary analog pixel ROICs nor within a reasonable available power budget using contemporary digital pixel ROICs or DROICs. The proposed ROIC will not only deliver high performance, but also enable a cheaper alternative to existing products, by being more compatible with modern wafer level processes, not be captive to one particular vendor's detector technology or monopoly costing, and compatible with already developed electronics suitable for small satellite missions.SAAZ will transition this ROIC technology into improved SWaP-C fielded sensors by securing Phase III funding from NASA, or from primes or using other commercial funding. The final systems will be ready for deployment on a variety of smallsat and other space platforms. SAAZ is collaborating with several primes who are interested in incorporating this technology into their systems for a variety of DoD applications and are supportive of a commercially available ROIC. Primes offer a path to support the development beyond Phase II. Upon successful completion of this SBIR effort, there is a path to transition this technology to active systems and programs of record in the DoD space as well as to the intended NASA missions. SAAZ is also independently marketing this technology to the wider commercial customer base in the emerging New Space economy. Through various engagements with the customers, SAAZ has developed a commercialization strategy for this technology that spans a wide application space. Some of the key applications being addressed by this technology include: • Landsat upgrade / SLI • Fire detection • Utilizing in SBG type of science missions • Overhead Persistent IR (OPIR) space system platforms for DoD • "New Space" commercial payloads • ISRO missions such as Cartosat/Resourcesat upgrades, and other foreign space agency missions A detailed commercialization plan developed by us shows a strong market need exists for this technology and a significant return on the NASA investment. Once the ROIC is demonstrated, a strong and growing commercial market, such as the "New Space" payloads being developed by SAAZ, will drive production costs down while improving performance, greatly benefitting future NASA missions.