Overview of existing channels
Infrared focal plane arrays

As we have seen in this article, there are many different types of infrared detectors. In this section, we present a summary of the commercially available matrix-format dies. The aim here is not to highlight one type of detector over another, since we have seen that to make a choice, it is necessary to take into account the intended application and carry out a dedicated performance assessment. It is therefore not possible to draw any general conclusions about the merits of any particular process. We therefore confine ourselves to factually reporting the characteristics of existing components.

The InGaAs die covers part of the SWIR window with a cut-off wavelength of 1.7 μm, which allows operation at room temperature, which is obviously an advantage. Today, megapixel arrays with a 10 μm pitch are available worldwide. Conventional components detect between 0.9 and...