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Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor- (CMOS-) Compatible Germanium Tin Infrared Camera
About
Visible imaging sensors detect light using silicon (Si), which is the major material responsible for granting such cheap and prolific computers and other electronic devices. Infrared imaging currently requires exotic elements such as Indium, Arsenic, and Mercury, which are more expensive to process into final imagers and cameras. A Germanium-Tin (GeSn) alloy is one promising solution to amalgamate infrared imaging into a low-cost platform. It is highly desirable to develop an alternative material featuring lower cost and higher temperature operation for pixels of IR cameras.
Key Benefits
* Dramatically lower cost * Mass producible with Si CMOS-compatible * Large scale process allows for more uniform product with less variation between pixels * Digital image capture of night vision instead of ‘eye only’ fluorescent screens * Lower power requirements than traditional night vision
Applications
Night vision and infrared imaging could be added to smart phones. This would allow individuals additional security when traveling alone at night or needing to see down a dark alley. Moreover, the added ability to take images and videos in the infrared would provide functionality to the device at a level much higher than all other smart phones with visible only cameras. For smart phones, the sensor would have to be uncooled (operating at room temperature), thus detection would be limited to 5.0 µm. This technology could be added to security cameras for better night and motion detection. Such devices could use either uncooled or cooled systems depending on application and infrared detection region of interest. It could also be applied to the military's handheld or vehicle mounted night vision and infrared sensing. The US military currently uses millions of night vision and infrared systems. The lower power requirements, ability to retain information digitally, and dramatically lower cost would allow these sensors to be implemented for many different military applications. Depending on application and power requirements, the military applications could be either cooled or uncooled sensors. Automobiles are rapidly becoming the next emerging market to embrace new technologies. Currently self-driving cars are limited to the daytime and are only available on higher end models. This technology could be used to improve nighttime driving detection for self-driving cars. this technology can be applied to drones in recreational capacities, such as a hobby or for an enthusiast, and would have an added benefit over existing market dominated by sensors that can only detect visible light. Military and police drones that already have night vision and infrared detection capability could see a dramatic price reduction by inclusion of these lower cost sensors.