Session
Weekday Poster Session 2
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
This paper reports on a unique solution for thermal imagery in the Earth Observation (EO) commercial space market. The High-Definition Infrared Space Camera Core (HDISCC) is based on INO's uncooled 1024x768 pixel 14 µm physical pixels, and broadband mid-wave to far-infrared (up to 100 µm wavelength with a gold black coating) with 28 µm physical pixels. In each case, stripe filters may be included in the sensor package to provide detection in multiple spectral bands. For example, in a push-broom implementation, a single camera can cover multiple mid-wave and long-wave infrared bands. The Camera Core contains the interface and proximity electronics to drive the detector, and to read out and digitize image data from the Focal Plane Array (FPA). An optional thermistor readout electronics digitizes and multiplexes up to 4 optional external thermistors to monitor the temperature for radiometric correction. The camera core was designed to withstand a 10-year lifetime in a low-Earth orbit environment. With the hundreds of EO satellites to be launched per year by 2031, this new camera core design will provide a powerful solution to reduce lead time and cost for commercial customers requiring custom multispectral infrared capability.
Ultra-Broadband Uncooled Infrared Camera Core for Multi-Spectral and Far-Infrared Earth, Lunar, and Planetary Observation
Utah State University, Logan, UT
This paper reports on a unique solution for thermal imagery in the Earth Observation (EO) commercial space market. The High-Definition Infrared Space Camera Core (HDISCC) is based on INO's uncooled 1024x768 pixel 14 µm physical pixels, and broadband mid-wave to far-infrared (up to 100 µm wavelength with a gold black coating) with 28 µm physical pixels. In each case, stripe filters may be included in the sensor package to provide detection in multiple spectral bands. For example, in a push-broom implementation, a single camera can cover multiple mid-wave and long-wave infrared bands. The Camera Core contains the interface and proximity electronics to drive the detector, and to read out and digitize image data from the Focal Plane Array (FPA). An optional thermistor readout electronics digitizes and multiplexes up to 4 optional external thermistors to monitor the temperature for radiometric correction. The camera core was designed to withstand a 10-year lifetime in a low-Earth orbit environment. With the hundreds of EO satellites to be launched per year by 2031, this new camera core design will provide a powerful solution to reduce lead time and cost for commercial customers requiring custom multispectral infrared capability.
