• DocumentCode
    1001974
  • Title

    Characterization of an amorphous GexSi1-xOy microbolometer for thermal imaging applications

  • Author

    Ahmed, A.H.Z. ; Tait, R.Niall

  • Author_Institution
    Dept. of Electron., Carleton Univ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada
  • Volume
    52
  • Issue
    8
  • fYear
    2005
  • Firstpage
    1900
  • Lastpage
    1906
  • Abstract
    A self-absorbing, self-supported microbolometer was fabricated using CMOS compatible surface micromachining technology. A high resistivity a-GexSi1-xOy resistor layer was suspended using an electrically conductive nichrome link. Prototype device fabrication and characterization indicates these devices may be suitable for application to commercial thermal imaging cameras. Detectivity of 6.7×108cm√Hz/W, responsivity of 1×105 V/W, and thermal time constant of 13 ms were measured and a NETD value of 190 mK was calculated.
  • Keywords
    CMOS integrated circuits; amorphous semiconductors; bolometers; germanium compounds; infrared imaging; micromachining; resistors; 13 ms; 190 mK; CMOS compatible surface micromachining technology; NETD value; a-GexSi1-xOy resistor layer; amorphous materials; electrically conductive nichrome link; germanium compounds; infrared imaging; microbolometer; thermal imaging camera; thermal time constant; Amorphous materials; Amorphous semiconductors; Bolometers; Conducting materials; Fabrication; Infrared detectors; Micromachining; Optical imaging; Semiconductor materials; Thermal conductivity; Amorphous materials; bolometers; germanium compounds; infrared imaging;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Journal_Title
    Electron Devices, IEEE Transactions on
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • ISSN
    0018-9383
  • Type

    jour

  • DOI
    10.1109/TED.2005.852545
  • Filename
    1468385