Low-Light-Level 640x480-pixel CCD Camera for Night Vision Applications

We report progress made over the past two years on a visible low-light-level 640 x 480- pixel CCD imager and the camera electronics developed for night vision applications. The CCD camera, operating at 30 frames per second, has demonstrated good performance to below starlight illuminance (<1 mLux) conditions. The high sensitivity of the CCD imager is the result of back-illumination and low-noise readout amplifiers. To improve the CCD bright-light-source performance, antiblooming drains have been integrated into the CCD architecture that inhibit pixel blooming for signal levels up to at least 105 times pixel full well. Sample CCD imagery under controlled and field illumination conditions, extending from full moon to overcast starlight, is shown.
See Also ADM201041, IRIS Proceedings (1998) on CD-ROM. --Original contains color plates: All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.