Low Power Infrared Imaging Sensors

Important results from the project

The two main objectives of the project were to demonstrate IR image sensors that can be used at a higher operating temperature than current technology to reduce their power consumption and to enable enhanced image resolution for these sensors (HD resolution). This has been achieved by developing a sensor based on type-II superlattice material (T2SL) that can be used at operating temperatures up to 130 -150 K with maintained state-of-the-art performance, and which does not degrade as the pixel size is reduced, which is a prerequisite for large and compact image sensors.

Expected long term effects

- IR sensors with outstanding performances have been developed in the project, with a thermal sensitivity of 21 mK for operating temperatures all the way up to 150 K. - The power consumption for cooling of the sensors was reduced by more than 35%. - HD readiness of the T2SL technology has triggered release of new HD products - Compact and light-weight IR-cameras based on this sensor technology have been demonstrated. This will significantly increase the competitiveness of these Swedish made IR-sensors and will open up for new applications where low size, weight and power consumption is key.

Approach and implementation

The project results have been achieved and demonstrated efficiently thanks to collaboration between many different partners along the IR value chain: - IRnova has developed the detector design and manufacturing processes for these sensors - Noxant has developed a compact camera in which these sensors have been integrated - Three end users have evaluated the camera in both lab environment and in land/air field tests when mounted on a car and a drone. Furthermore, fruitful collaboration between IRnova and KTH with a joint PhD student has led to profound understanding of this technology.