ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10977
Open Date: 03/08/2021 16:35 CEST
Closing Date: 28/09/2021 13:00 CEST

Detectors with sensitivity in the near and short wave infrared are of high importance for space remote sensing and imaging applications. The detectors made from InGaAs material are very attractive, due to their natural cut-off at 1.65um and their capability to operate in the short wave region with moderate or no cooling. An application example is for Earth Observation missions where the SWIR spectral range can be used for the CO2 concentration measurements in the atmosphere. On the other hand, in recent years, there has been an increased demand for instruments offering large swath and high-resolution, pushing for the use of 2D pixel arrays with small pixel pitches. Current state of the art of InGaAs 2D arrays in Europe is 640 x 512 pixels format, which is too small for a required field of view > 300 km x 300 km. It is therefore proposed to develop an InGaAs 2D array with format >1K x 1K, pixel pitch of 10m and advanced read-out capabilities e.g. multi-windowing. The activity will also consider and investigate if feasible the possibility to extend the InGaAs cut-off to 2.5um.The activity encompasses the following tasks:- Review of requirements (a) with earth observation instrument developers (b) with InGaAs photodiode array manufacturers to evaluate the largest format (size/pitch) which could be built with acceptable yield- Perform ROIC architecture definition and address corresponding trade-offs- Perform the ROIC detailed design- Manufacture the ROICs and the associated InGaAs photodiodes arrays- Build InGaAs large format hybrids and integrate them in lab package- Characterize the detectors, including radiation testing- Provide a roadmap for development of a dedicated space package and for detector industrialization

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Gian Lorenzo Casini
Initiating Service: TEC-MME
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 17-B-II-Infrared detectors. (NIR–FIR)
Products Keywords: 2-A-1.1-a-Detectors (APS, CCD, infrared detectors,…) / 2-B-1-p-Optoelectronic Devices (including opto-couplers, LED, CCDs, displays, sensors)