Micro-camera and micro-spectrometer designs adapted to large infrared focal plane arrays

Abstract : Today's infrared focal plane arrays concentrate in a small volume of typically 1 cm3 the results of three decades of research in microelectronics and packaging. Several technological breakthroughs have already been achieved leading to the development of infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPA's) for high-performances applications requiring spatial and thermal resolution, also for low-cost and high-manufacturing volumes (technology of uncooled micro-bolometers). The next step is to reduce the optics and make it compatible with the successful IRFPA's fabrication technology. This paper presents some methods and technologies we are exploring for high-performance and small infrared systems. These developments have led to a tool box of micro-concepts described by an optical function (imagery or spectrometry) integrated in the vicinity of the IRFPA. For this, old optical concepts have been revisited (pinhole optics, Talbot effect) and first demonstrations of original IRFPA-based micro-optical assemblies will be given.