Sources Sought for High Speed Long-Range Infrared (LWIR) Camera

The Data and Analysis Center (DAC) has a requirement for a scientific grade imager that operates in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectral regions. The imager will be used to make calibrated radiometric measurements of targets of interest to the DAC. The Contractor shall provide one scientific grade imager that meets the following minimum requirements.

• The imager shall utilize a focal plane array (FPA) of minimum size 640 pixels (horizontal) by 480 pixels (vertical).
• The FPA shall utilize Strained Layer Superlattice (SLS) detectors with a pixel pitch of 25 micrometers (µm) or smaller.
• The spectral response of the imager shall include the region from 2.5 to 11 µm.
• The imager shall be equipped with a linear Stirling cooler to cool internal components including the FPA, cold filter, and cold aperture to a nominal temperature of 77 Kelvin (K).
• The imager shall have a cold aperture installed and the diameter of the aperture shall be sized to set the imager’s f-number at f/4.0.
• A cold filter shall be installed and the imager’s entrance window and cold filter shall have anti-reflection (AR) coatings applied on both sides.
• The window and cold filter shall be tilted to reduce/eliminate fringe patterns generated by multiple reflections when imaging laser energy. The window and cold filter shall be tilted in opposite directions. The degree of tilt for both the window and cold filter shall be at least 3°.
• The imager shall include the ability to set the FPA region of interest to a smaller window size.
• The imager shall be capable of acquiring images at a rate of at least 450 frames per second (FPS) at the full window size of 640x480, and at least 2000 FPS at a reduced window size of 320x100.
• The imager shall include the ability to set the integration time of the FPA.
• The dynamic range of the imager shall be 14-bit and shall include the option to set the dynamic range to 13-bits in order to increase the frame rate.
• An adapter or receptacle for bayonet mounted lenses to the imager shall be provided.
• A four position filter wheel shall be included with the imager and the filter wheel shall accept 1-inch diameter optical filters.
• The system shall include a base plate for mounting the camera on a tripod and the base plate shall include at least one threaded ¼-20 inch hole.
• A software development kit (SDK) shall be included with the imager to facilitate development of a data acquisition system (DAS) for acquiring imagery data.
• The imager shall include Camera Link and Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) connectors to transmit and receive data and communications with a DAS.