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Cooled
Infrared Detectors |
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Products |
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Brochure |
Jupiter
MW |
1280x1024
/ 3.7-4.8µm |
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Saturn
SW |
1000x256
/ 0.8-2.5μm |
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Scorpio
MW |
640x512
/ 3.7-4.8μm |
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Scorpio
LW |
640x512
/ 7.7-9.5μm (7.7-11.5μm optional) |
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Uranus
MW |
640x512
/ 3.7-4.8μm |
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Sirius
LW |
640x512
/ 7.9-9.1μm |
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Neptune
SW |
500x256
/ 0.8-2.5μm |
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Mercury
LW |
480x6
/ 7.7-10.3μm |
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Epsilon
MW |
384x288
/ 3.4-4.8μm |
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Venus
LW |
384x288
/ 7.7-9.5μm |
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Vega
LW |
384x288
/ 7.7-9.1μm |
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Mars
APD |
320x256
/ 1.5μm , 1-2μm,
3.7-4.2μm, 3.7-4.8μm |
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Mars
SW |
320x256
/ 0.8-2.5μm |
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Mars
MW |
320x256
/ 3.7-4.8μm |
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Mars
LW |
320x256
/ 7.7-9.5μm |
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Mars
VLW |
320x256
/ 7.7-11.5μm |
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Pluton
LW |
288x4
/ 7.7-9.5μm |
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The Factory |
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Our
cooled detectors are made by our parent company,
Sofradir SAS, located outside Grenoble, France. |
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Sofradir SAS develops
and manufactures advanced infrared detectors for military,
space and commercial applications. The company specializes
in cooled IR detectors based on a sophisticated high performance
Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) technology. Since
the company’s founding in 1986, Sofradir SAS has
pioneered the development of second- and third-generation
MCT IR detectors, and secured a vast product portfolio
of scanning and staring arrays that covers the entire
infrared spectrum using MCT, quantum well infrared photodetectors
(QWIP) as well as microbolometer technology platforms.
Sofradir SAS is the first company to successfully develop
MCT technology and bring its industrial processes to maturity.
It is among the very few who can produce large quantities
of second-generation and third-generation IR detectors. In
2008, Sofradir SAS employed over 400 people and was considered
the No. 1 supplier in Europe for high-grade IR detectors for
application in thermal imagers, missile seekers, and other
surveillance, targeting and homing infrared equipment, based
on their historical deliveries of cooled MCT second-generation
IR detector units. In addition, Sofradir also holds a unique
position in Europe as the only company to have developed,
qualified and deployed space-grade second generation IR detectors.
Working in close cooperation with national space agencies
and companies worldwide, Sofradir’s
MCT IR detectors today observe deep space, observe Earth,
monitor the environment, and provide data on meteorological
phenomena.
To stay at the forefront of IR detection,
Sofradir invests significantly in research and development.
Their team of experienced engineers and technicians works
in partnership with scientists at the Infrared Research
Laboratory (LETI/LIR), the most advanced lab in Europe,
to advance their MCT technology. The team anticipates future
optronics defense system requirements and develops new solutions
to address these needs. As a consequence, Sofradir has been
able to deliver a number of “firsts” to the
market, and offer products that give customers a competitive
edge. |
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Recent Sofradir SAS
Research Papers |
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Uniting
IR detectors for tactical and space applications: a
continuous cycle for reliability
Authors: Xavier Breniere, Philippe Tribolet
Published 7 May 2009
Sofradir IR detectors are being deployed in a lengthening
line of space applications (earth observation, atmospheric
observation, scientific missions, etc.). At first glance,
one may ask what do detectors for space applications have
in common with detectors for tactical applications? This paper
describes how Sofradir is able to take advantage of both space
and tactical applications in their development of infrared
detectors because the core of the technologies and manufacturing
processes common to both applications. The result, is a continuous
cycle for reliability of IR detectors, accelerating reliability
growth in production and at the same time meeting stringent
requirements for space applications. |
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Fifty
years of successful MCT research and production in France
Authors: Philippe Bensussan, Philippe Tribolet,
Gérard Destéfanis, et al.
Published 7 May 2009
France has a long and fruitful history regarding Mercury
Cadmium Telluride (MCT) research and production and is still
one of the leading countries for the production of MCT IR
detectors. This paper gives a historical account of its development
and progress, describing the early days of MCT developments,
as well as research carried out on second- and third-generation
MCT technologies, and production of these detector types. |
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Ultra-low
power ADC on chip for high-performance IR detector
Authors: Gilbert Decaens, Michel Zecri, Patrick
Maillart, et al.
Published 6 May 2009
The Infrared staring arrays developed by SOFRADIR are more
and more compact and offer system solutions for wide range
of IR wavebands. IR detectors have been taken to an even more
advanced level of sophistication to achieve staring arrays
high performances. Latest developments have also been focused
on the silicon readout circuit. Digital conversion on chip
is one of the recent progresses in this field of activity.
In order to match each system requirements, on chip high performance
ultra low power ADCs have been developed. Beyond the performance
aspects, digital focal plane arrays can be considered as the
first step towards low cost Dewar family, since they allow
for a simpler electrical interface on Dewar designs and on
chip image processing. Recent results concerning these new
readout circuit architectures are presented in this paper. |
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Status
of very long infrared-wave focal plane array development
at DEFIR
Authors: O. Gravrand, Ph. Chorier
Published 6 May 2009
The very long infrared wavelength (>14μm) is a very
challenging range for the design of large HgCdTe focal plane
arrays. As the wavelength gets longer (ie the semiconductor
gap gets smaller), the physic of photodiodes asks for numerous
technological improvements to keep a high level of detection
performance. DEFIR (LETI-Sofradir common research team) has
been highly active in this field during the last few years.
The need for very long wave focal plane arrays appears very
demanding in terms of dark current, defect density and of
course quantum efficiency. This paper aims at presenting a
status of long and very long wave focal plane array development
at DEFIR for three different ion implanted technologies: n
on p mercury vacancies doped technology, n on p extrinsic
doped technology, and p on n arsenic on indium technology.
Special focus is done to 15μm cut off n/p focal plane array
fabricated in our laboratory demonstrating high uniformity,
diffusion and shot noise limited photodiodes at 50K. |
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New
high-gain detectors for active imaging
Authors: Frederic Pistone, P. Tribolet, X. Lefoul,
et al.
Published 6 May 2009
New applications require high sensitivity infrared (IR) sensors
in order to detect very low incident fluxes. Laser gated imaging
has, in particular, additional specific needs. IR sensors
for this type of application are synchronized with eye-safe
lasers, and have to detect a weak signal backscattered from
the target on the order of 10 photons per pulse. They also
have to be able to operate with a very short integration time,
typically one hundred nanoseconds, to gate the backscattered
signal around the target. This paper describes the road-map
to address low flux infrared sensors in the next few years. |
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Sofradir
MCT technology for space applications
Author: Philippe Chorier
Published 6 May 2009
Sofradir is one of a leading company
of the world for the development and production of infrared
detectors. Main applications of these detectors are tactical
and commercial applications but also space applications including
earth observation that began in 1990. Sofradir’s has
developed a capability to develop a large panel of high reliable
detectors like long linear arrays or two dimensional arrays
covering bandwidth from visible to 15 μm based on qualified
Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) technology. This paper describes
Sofradir’s involvement in several projects for future
space missions (SPIRALE, Sentinel-2 for GMES, MTG, SGLI...)
covering a spectral range from visible to long wavelength
infrared. The paper reviews Sofradir technology for the development
and manufacturing of infrared detectors for space applications
with particular emphasis on the different programs currently
run with a presentation of the associated results in terms
of performances and qualifications for space use. |
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Latest
results of SOFRADIR MCT technology for space applications
Authors: L. Vial, P. Chorier, O. Gravrand
Published 9 October 2008
Vol. 7106: Sensors,
Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XII
This paper describes Sofradir’s developments of high
reliability Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) with different
formats covering bandwidths from visible to over 15 μm.
Specifically, the latest developments concern the extension,
characterization and improvement of the MCT technology into
the visible range for hyperspectral and spectroscopy needs
as well as continuing development of detectors with long-wave
cut-off wavelength (above 13 μm) for future space applications
like meteorology, for example. |
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Latest
developments in compact IR cooled detectors
Authors: F. Pistone, M. Vuillermet
Published 2 October 2008
Vol. 7113: Electro-Optical
and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications V
Improvements in HgCdTe staring arrays are described that demonstrate
new levels of compactness and performance. A family of 15 µm
pixel pitch detectors is described, including a model with
mid-TV format (384 × 288), a TV format (640 × 512)
and a HD-TV format (1280 × 1024). The latest development
dealing with the mid-TV format is performed according to very
challenging specifications regarding compactness and low power
consumption. Thanks to recent improvements, the MCT technology
allows to operate detectors at higher temperature, in order
to save power consumption at system level. In parallel, the
15μm pitch enables to reach challenging density and spatial
resolution. |
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HgCdTe
APD- focal plane array development at CEA Leti-Minatec
Authors: Johan Rothman, Gwladys Perrais, Eric De Borniol, et al.
Published 5 May 2008
Vol. 6940: Infrared
Technology and Applications XXXIV
We report the latest developments of MW HgCdTe electron initiated avalanche photo-diodes
(e-APDs) focal plane arrays (FPAs) at CEA-LETI. The MW e-APD FPAs are developed
in view of ultra-sensitive high dynamic range passive starring arrays, active
2D/3D and dual-mode passive-active imaging, which is why both the passive imaging
performance and the gain characteristics of the APDs are of interest. A passive
mode responsivity operability of 99.9% was measured in LPE and MBE e-APDs FPAs
associated with an average NETD=12mK, demonstrating that dual mode passive-active
imaging can be achieved with LETI e-APDs without degradation in the passive imaging
performance. |
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IR
detectors design and approach for tactical applications
with high reliability without maintenance
Authors: Xavier Breniere, Philippe Tribolet
Published 2 May 2008
Vol. 6940: Infrared
Technology and Applications XXXIV
Tactical applications require that IR detectors have low frequency of maintenance
as well as predictable maintenance location. Maintenance has a cost that becomes
quickly prohibitive when the cooler or the vacuum needs to be frequently repaired.
After many years of research, Sofradir reports on reliability and life cycle
cost optimization considering all the IR detectors subassemblies. This work has
lead to an increased robustness of detectors and technologies even under severe
environmental conditions, and reduced variability in production. This paper presents
the state of the art of Integrated Detector Dewar Cooler Assembly (IDDCA)'s reliability,
the production means and the methods that allow us today to propose detectors
with very high reliability without maintenance. These detectors are a breakthrough
for life cycle cost for tactical applications as portable cameras, airborne systems,
and missiles. |
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Advanced
HgCdTe technologies and dual-band developments
Authors: Philippe Tribolet, Gérard Destefanis, Philippe Ballet,
et al.
Published 18 April 2008
Vol. 6940: Infrared
Technology and Applications XXXIV
The Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) approach was under investigation for several
years to prepare both the very large array fabrication and the 3rd generation
developments. This large step in Infrared (IR) detector mass production is also
necessary for producing third generation of IR detectors such as bicolor and
dual band FPAs which use more complex multi hetero-junctions architectures. These
new advanced HgCdTe technologies necessary for third generation developments
have been validated and their producibility have been improved. As far as dual
band IR detectors are concerned, the technologies are developed and a full TV
format (24μm pixel pitch) is currently under development with a first application
in bicolor within medium waveband. Future improvements including avalanche photodiodes
(APD), will lead to more compact systems as well as a low cost approach. |
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State-of-the-art
of mass production: challenges for low-cost and application
benefits of high-performances small-pitch IR detectors
Authors: Emmanuel Bercier, Jean Luc Dessus, Alain Manissadjian, et al.
Published 15 April 2008
Vol. 6940: Infrared
Technology and Applications XXXIV
HgCdTe (Mercury Cadmium Telluride / MCT) staring arrays for infrared detection
do show constant improvements regarding their compactness and performances. New
detectors are now proposed offering system solutions in the different IR wavebands
and taking advantage of the latest technology improvements as well as MCT performance
advantages and cost reduction. Based on 20 years of experience in 50μm to
15μm pitch Infrared (IR) detector production, the challenge of mass production
of low-cost small-pixel pitch detectors are reviewed, from the IR chip manufacturing
including detection material, hybridization, ROIC, to the integration in final
packing. Taking advantage of its simple well known existing process, then the
analyzes of all technological steps adapted to small pitch IR detector are presented,
in terms of product performance, reliability, process statistics and capability
in order to achieve high yield and low product cost. Answers given the low-cost
small-pitch IR detector mass productions finally give benefits to application
in terms of high performance, cost reduction, extended life time, and on the
field system Life Cycle Support Among these new detectors, one can find the family
of 15 μm pixel pitch detectors a TV format (640 x 512) integrated in dedicated
tactical Dewars, taking advantages on last development in coolers manufacturing
and Dewar assembly. |
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