ULIS bolometer for fast imaging applications sets new response-time record

1. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
THERMAL IMAGE
SENSORS
ULIS
Bolometer
improvements for fast
imaging applications
8th
International
symposium
On optronics in
Defense & Security
6th-8th February 2018
Sébastien Tinnes, N. Boudou, A. Durand
ULIS - ZI Les cordées
38113 Veurey-Voroize – France
www.ulis-ir.com

2. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
ULIS AT A GLANCE
BOLOMETER THERMAL TIME CONSTANT
FAST BOLOMETER PERFORMANCE
APPLICATION EXAMPLES

3. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Company positioning
About ULIS
FOUNDED
IN 2002
200
950 SOFRADIR
GROUP STAFF
NEAR GRENOBLE
FRANCE
97%
EXPORT
2nd LARGEST
SENSOR
MANUFACTURER
OVER 800K
SENSORS SHIPPED
SINCE 2002
RESEARCH
PARTNER
CEA LETI
ONERA
DEPENDABLE PARTNER
• Supplies components only
• Makes targeted product
improvements that specifically
address your requirements
THERMAL IMAGING
EXPERTISE
• High thermal sensitivity
• Compact and light weight
• Lowest power consumption
• Ease of use
TAILORED CUSTOMER SUPPORT
• A dedicated account rep for
personalized support
• Full on-site and off-site support and
training part of our product/ service
package
• 110 sq. m training center with
dedicated testing equipment
We specialize in the design
and manufacture of thermal sensors.
Our mission is to make thermal imaging
technology accessible and affordable enough for
everyday use
52 PATENT FAMILIES
160 PATENTS FILED
20% REVENUE
INVESTED IN
R&D
€

4. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Designed for the most demanding environments
ULIS at a Glance

5. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
FOR
ALL PRODUCTS
• Detection technology: Microbolometer
• Spectral response: 8-14 µm
• Operability 24/7, all weather conditions
• Operating temperature range: -40° to +85°C
• TECless/Shutterless compatible
• Standards: MIL-STD-810 and 883
• MTTF > 15 years
• I²C serial link for register programming
QVGA/QQVGA Format
Pico160-054TM
160x120 - 17µm
Pico384-053TM
384x288 - 17µm
Related products:
Pico384E
Pico384P
80x80 Format XGA FormatVGA Format
Pico640-046TM
640x480 - 17µm
Related products:
UL 04 32 2
UL 04 27 2
Pico1024-048TM
1024x768 - 17µm
M80-044TM
80x80
ULIS at a Glance
A complete range of solutions

6. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Bolometer Thermal Time Constant
Definition of Thermal Time Constant 𝝉 𝒕𝒉
Pradiation x =
A if x < t0
B if x ≥ t0
Tbol =
TROIC + A. Rth if x < t0
TROIC + B + A − B . e
t0−t
τth . Rth
with 𝝉 𝒕𝒉 = Cth. Rth
2.5 µm
0.1 µm
ReflectorROIC input pad
Thermal
Insulation
Rth
Pixel pitch
Thermometer
(Thermal mass Cth)
Pradiation

7. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Bolometer Thermal Time Constant
Pradiation x =
A if x < t0
B if x ≥ t0
Tbol =
TROIC + A. Rth if x < t0
TROIC + B + A − B . e
t0−t
τth . Rth
with 𝛕𝐭𝐡 = Cth. Rth
Definition of Thermal Time Constant 𝝉 𝒕𝒉
Scene flux vs Time : Pradiation (x)
Bolometer Temperature : Tbol

8. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Bolometer Thermal Time Constant
State of the Art
 τth and NETD are ruled by common
design parameters like Rth, bolometer
thickness,…
 These parameters have opposite
effects with regards to NETD and τth.
 τth is combined to NETD to define
bolometer
FoM = τth x NETD
Manufacturer Model
NETD
(mk)
τth
(ms)
FOM
(mK.ms)
FLIR Quark2 50 12 600
SCD Bird640 40 16 640
DRS U6160 50 14 700
ULIS PICO640Gen2 40 12 480
Best FoMs
between 480 and
600mk.ms
with 𝛕𝐭𝐡 ≈ 12ms

9. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Bolometer Thermal Time Constant
Bolometer limitations
 95% of the bolometer response is
reached after 3τth, (ie 36ms with 𝛕𝐭𝐡
≈ 12ms )
 It applies for both heating up and
cooling down
For short events or fast
moving objects :
 Images are blurred
 S/N is limited
Glass control line
Glass control line

10. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Bolometer Thermal Time Constant
ULIS technical target
To significantly reduce the τth
while keeping a state of the art
NETD

11. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
ULIS Fast Bolometer performance
DOE results
 3 most promising
designs
 Configuration 1 :
NETD 45mK - 52mK
τth <2.5 to 3 ms
 FoM < 150mK.ms
τth = Rth * Cth
NETD versus 𝛕𝐭𝐡

12. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
ULIS Fast Bolometer performance
Detailed measurements
τth = Rth * Cth
𝛕𝐭𝐡 Mapping measurement
Mean value : 2.46ms
𝛕𝐭𝐡 Histrogram of repartition
Standard deviation : 0.04ms

13. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Standard Pixel vs Improved Pixel
Application examples
Example 1 : Chopper
Chopper rotating @ 67 rev. / s
11ms 2.5ms

14. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
Standard Pixel vs Improved Pixel
Application Examples
Example 2 : Glass manufacturing line
11ms 2.5ms
Line speed 1m/s

15. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
ULIS bolometer improvement for fast imaging applications
Conclusions and perspectives
 First PoC with improved FoM were successfully fabricated
 After a first DOE, the best achieved FoM < 150mK.ms for 17µm pitch pixels
 Technology useful for applications that need fast imaging (Machine vision,…)
 Prototypes in QVGA/17 available on request
 This technology could be embedded in products depending on users feedback

16. www.ulis-ir.com
ULISCONFIDENTIAL
THERMAL IMAGE
SENSORS
THANK YOU
for your attention
“All rights reserved. Contents are ULIS’ property and can be changed by ULIS at any time.
The information contained herein is confidential and intended solely for the person to which it is addressed.
Any copy or dissemination of the information contained herein is prohibited.”