DRS U6000 640x480 VOx uncooled IR focal plane

DRS (formerly Boeing) has completed the development and demonstration of a 25-micron pixel size 640x480 VOx microbolometer uncooled IR focal plane product, the U6000. The U6000 incorporates several advanced features to enhance its performance and functional capabilities. A parallel six- bit Smart-Sensor data bus provides external command and data interface capability between the sensor and the focal plane. This includes on chip 6-bit pixel offset correction, detector bias selection and regulation, programmable signal gain, interlaced and non-interlaced output video format selection, signal integration time selection and input referred global offset selection capabilities. The U6000 also includes a high resolution on-chip temperature measurement that is incorporated into the single channel output video during horizontal blanking. This paper describes the U6000's functional capabilities, and provides U6000 functional validation and performance data.