NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : Near Infrared (0.8um to 2um) Photon Counting Detector

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

PixelVision, Inc. proposes to design, manufacture, test, and optimize a near infrared (NIR) sensitive, transfer electron (TE) photocathode, electron bombarded CCD (EBCCD) photon counting sensor. The innovation uses a highly efficient high frame rate, low noise back-illuminated CCD that when integrated with a TE photocathode and operated in the electron bombarded (EBS)mode allows high frame rate photon counting. By providing nearly noiseless (Fano limited) gain without a microchannel plate, the photon counting sensing EBCCD does not suffer from the drawbacks of other image tube and intensified imaging approaches.

An ideal photon counter for the NIR spectral region does not presently exist. Cooling requirements, large pixel size, poor signal to noise, phosphor persistence, poor resolution, blooming and difficult manufacture all plague the currently competing technologies. PixelVision, Inc. a leader in high performance back-illuminated CCD design and manufacture proposes development of a hybrid imager that will combined two innovative technologies: 1) a transfer electron semiconductor photocathode that has greater than 20 percent quantum efficiency in the 1 to 2 micron spectral region, and 2) an electron bombarded CCD (EBCCD) sensor that provides nearly noiseless (Fano limited) gain

The development of the proposed sensor will expand markets requiring affordable high frame rate sensors in the NIR spectral regions. Opportunities for the NIR photon counting sensor include: amateur astronomy, speckle imaging, range gated NIR lasers applications, eye-safe LIDAR, adaptive optics, range gated imaging in adverse weather conditions, surveillance (better match to night sky glow), space based wavefront imaging, neural imaging, and industrial inspection and robotics.

Typed Name James R. Janesick
Title Chief Scientific Officer
FIRM NAME PixelVision, Inc
MAIL ADDRESS 15250 NW Greenbrier Parkway
CITY/STATE/ZIP Beaverton, OR 97006

Typed Name George M. Williams
Title General Manager
FIRM NAME PixelVision, Inc
MAIL ADDRESS 15250 NW Greenbrier Parkway
CITY/STATE/ZIP Beaverton, OR 97006