Description
Objective: Develop and demonstrate a dual-band camera, operating across the extended short-wave and mid-wave infrared bands, incorporating a single large format, small pitch, focal plane array and corresponding digital readout integrated circuit suitable for video imaging in a maritime environment. Description: The Navy is developing and deploying a suite of imaging sensors (cameras) operating across both visible and infrared wavelengths to provide panoramic surveillance, situational awareness, and target detection. Collectively, these cameras are required to yield high resolution, multi-spectral, video imagery over large fields of regard in challenging maritime environments. Consequently, a complete system necessarily incorporates multiple optical apertures and multiple, large format, small pitch, focal plane arrays (FPAs), each covering a wavelength band of interest and each with its own video readout and data interface. The full system is largely just a collection of individual cameras, mounted together and aligned and coordinated through a common controller. The size, weight, and cost are essentially the sum of the size, weight, and cost of the individual cameras. The system performance is fundamentally limited by the performance of the individual cameras as well. Other than the quality of the optics, individual camera performance is determined by the focal plane array (FPA) and the digital readout integrated circuit (DROIC), which are typically specific to the particular wavelength band. True multi-spectral sensing at the FPA level would reduce the size, weight, and the cost of the overall system. Alignment and synchronization issues between bands would also be eliminated. Of particular interest are the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) band of 3-5 microns wavelength and what is commonly referred to as the “extended” short-wave infrared (e-SWIR) band of 1-2.5 microns wavelength. The bands are adjacent, except for a small atmospheric absorption gap, and large format (16+ megapixel) small pitch (less than 8 micron) FPAs are desired for both bands. The bands are therefore naturally suited to dual-band sensor architectures. It should also be noted that true dual-band sensing utilizing these two bands (as opposed to wide-band sensing or sensing each band separately with two, band-specific FPAs) is expected to yield superior performance, offering increased range and improved clutter rejection for overall enhanced situational awareness. This is a collateral benefit, not a topic requirement, and it assumes that implementation of the dual-band FPA architecture does not compromise or otherwise degrade other key performance measures, such as noise and resolution. The Navy desires an innovative camera technology capable of providing dual-band e-SWIR and MWIR video imagery data in separate channels via a Camera Link serial protocol standard (or equivalent) interface. There is no known technology commercially available today that meets the Navy’s current needs. The prototype camera shall incorporate a focal plane array comprised of a bias-selectable dual-band sensor and integrated digital readout integrated circuit (DROIC) or digital pixel readout integrated circuit (DPROIC). The focal plane array should be installed in an integrated Dewar-Cooler assembly operating at 100-160 Kelvin, with cold shield and optics of f1.5 or faster with a 1-5 micron optical transmission band. The camera should have an instantaneous field of view (FOV) no greater than 200 micro-radians. For purposes of demonstration, the prototype FPA is only required to have 2000 x 2000 (or equivalent) pixel format, but no larger than 8-micron pixel pitch. However, the technology should be fundamentally capable of extension to larger formats. A path to a smaller pitch is also highly desirable. The design should address performance issues such as noise equivalent irradiance performance, saturation/dynamic-range, and other DROIC-defined parameters. The DROIC/DPROIC should support 30 Hz full frame rate operation. While it is not necessary that it be demonstrated under this Phase II effort, the DROIC design should be capable of supporting higher frame rate windowing in multiple sub-windows. The prototype shall be tested in a manner and under conditions that clearly demonstrate the performance improvements obtained by the dual-band approach. Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVSEA in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Keywords: Imaging Sensors; Dual-Band Camera; Focal Plane Array; Digital Readout Integrated Circuit; Extended Short-Wave Infrared; Mid-Wave Infrared; MWIR CMMC Level: Level 2 (Self)