Transmission imaging measurements at 188 GHz with 0.35 μm CMOS technology

Exelis Geospatial Systems and its CEIS partners at the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology are developing an active THz imaging system for use in standoff detection, molecular spectroscopy and penetration imaging. The current activity is focused on developing a precision instrument for the detection of radiation centered on atmospheric windows between 200 GHz and 400 GHz (available sources). A transmission imager is developed by raster scanning through a semi-coherent non-ionizing beam, where the beam is incident on a NMOS FET detector. The primary goal of the initial system is to produce a setup capable of measuring responsivity and sensitivity of the detector. The Instrumentation covers the electromagnetic spectral range between 188 GHz and 7.0 THz. Transmission measurements are collected at 188 GHz in order to verify image formation, responsivity and sensitivity as well as demonstrate the active imager's ability to make penetration images.