High resolution infrared imaging sensors with low power consumption
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | IRnova AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 399 100 |
| Project duration | November 2020 - February 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme Electronic Components and Systems: |
Important results from the project
The purpose of this project was to investigate which detector design and which manufacturing methods are best suited for manufacturing IR sensors with high resolution and low power consumption. The goal has been met as we have demonstrated that a new manufacturing process enables operating temperatures up to 110 K for high-resolution sensors, which enables use of small coolers with low power consumption. In addition, a new detector design has been developed which is less sensitive to surface leakage currents, which enables a further increase of the operating temperature up to 150 K.
Expected long term effects
We have developed a new detector design and validated manufacturing processes that enable significantly higher operating temperatures than we have today. The expected effect of this is that we will be able to reduce the power consumption of IRnova´s current compact IR sensors by at least 30% and that we also will be able to develop new high-resolution sensors with low power consumption and with maintained high performance.
Approach and implementation
The work has been performed in joint efforts between IRnova and KTH, where the partners´ expertise in different areas has been combined in a fruitful way. In the project, IRnova has been responsible for detector design and the formation of a reference group for the following FoI project, while validation of the manufacturing process to obtain reproducibly low dark current for small pixels has been performed in collaboration between IRnova and KTH.