InfraredVision Technology Corporation, ITC, Buellton California, is preparing to unveil its uncooled microbolometers. The company’s ITC-1000 series detector module is being targeted for both imaging and radiometric commercial camera applications.

The 320 x 240 VOx microbolometer has 37.5-um pixels to provide potential cost reductions for camera manufactures. A CMOS readout IC (ROIC) provides on-chip nonuniformity correction and gain control. In addition, the chip is designed to allow non-temperature stabilized operation. The integration time can be varied for applications where large variations in infrared radiation must be accommodated. Vacuum packaging of the sensors is accomplished using a low-cost metal design. A radiation shield is available for the radiometric unit.

All components are manufactured in the company’s 6,000 square foot Buellton, California facility, which includes a 2,500 sq. ft. clean room for microbolometer fabrication on 6” silicon wafers. Packaging and test operations are accomplished in house.

The ITC-1100 detector module is designed for NETDs better than 80 mK with F/1.0 optics and a 60-Hz frame rate. Additional information on measured performance will be presented at the SPIE Infrared Technologies & Applications Conference in Orlando in April.

[Editor’s Note: ITC – which manufactures the microbolometers under a Honeywell license – expects to supply focal planes only, rather than complete sensor engines.]