Infra-Red Image Sensing and Conversion Into Visible Light

Abstract

An interesting integrated circuit configuration consisting of an operational amplifier with metal insulator semiconductor transistors coupled to a pn junction photovoltaic detector and a feedback diode is proposed for fabricating integrated arrays which will form the image-sensor mosaic. The output of this array can be used to drive the mosaic panel of electroluminiscent diodes, either directly or through scanning type of system in order to obtain a visible output which is replica of the infra-red signal at the input. Using the present-day IC technology, it should be possible to fabricate compact all-solid-state infra-red image sensors and converters for use in binocular type of viewing by the nightglow.

Experimental data on the devices required for integration of a unit-cell detector-amplifier system are presented. For the system proposed for infra-red image sensing and conversion into visible light, an analysis of the system time constant is presented, and, it is shown that a system time constant of 0.1 sec or less can be obtained by the integrated system proposed here. On the basis of this analysis, an integrated format was selected and preliminary integrated circuits were fabricated which were close to meeting parameters of the system design. This system has a good application in the nightviewing of slow to medium-speed objects with the help of nightlight reflection.

Indexing Terms:

• I.R Image Sensors
• Nightviewing Systems

Additional information

Notes on contributors

N.R. Mantena

Mantena, Niladri R. Recevied BSc degree from Andhra University in 1957, DMIT from Madras Institute of Technology in 1960, M. Tech. Degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 1961, and the PhD Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966. From 1961–66 he has a Research Assistant and an Assistant Professor at the University of California, and worked on Electron Beam Devices. He was associated with the Solid-State Laboratory, Hewlett-Packard USA, during 1966–70 and worked on GaAs microwave devices, photo-conductors, photo-voltaic devices, processing of bipolar and MOS devices in the Integrated Circuit Laboratory. During 1970–74, he worked as the Technical Manager of the Semiconductors Division of ECIL, Hyderabad and on deputation to the State Government, worked as Project Manager (Electronics) from 1975–79. He joined HMT in June 1979 and closely associated in the implementation of Quartz Electronic Watch projects including watch-production and the components manufacture. He is the General Technical Manager and Head of the Electronic Watch Department of the Watch Business Group of HMT, with the responsibility of production of quartz analogue and digital watches, and manufacture of components like PCB, stepper motor and miniature batteries. He is also closely associated with development work on quartz clocks, large-area digital time displays, and other electronic projects of HMT. Dr. Mantena was a Member of the IEEE, New York (1965–69) and was elected as a Fellow of the IETE in 1979.