Full video format focal plane array (FPA) modules with up to 640 x 512 pixels have been developed for high resolution imaging applications in either mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) mid wave (MWIR) infrared (IR) or platinum silicide (PtSi) and quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) technology as low cost alternatives to MCT for high performance IR imaging in the MWIR or long wave spectral band (LWIR). For the QWIP's, a new photovoltaic technology was introduced for improved NETD performance and higher dynamic range. MCT units provide fast frame rates >100Hz together with state of the art thermal resolution NETD < 20mK for short snapshot integration times of typically 2ms. PtSi and QWIP modules are usually operated in a rolling frame integration mode with frame rates of 30-60Hz and provide thermal resolutions of NETD < 80mK for PtSi and NETD < 20mK for QWIP, respectively. Due to the lower quantum efficiency compared to MCT, however, the integration time is typically chosen to be as long 10-20ms. The heat load of the integrated detector cooler assemblies (IDCAs) could be reduced to an amount as low, that a 1W split linear cooler provides sufficient cooling power to operate the modules - including the QWIP with 60K operation temperature - at ambient temperatures up to 65<degrees>C. Miniaturized command/control electronics (CCE) available for all modules provide a standardized digital interface, with 14 bit analogue to digital conversion for state of the art correctability, access to highly dynamic scenes without any loss of information and simplified exchangeability of the units. New modular image processing hardware platforms and software for image visualization and nonuniformity correction including scene based self learning algorithms had to bee developed to accomplish for the high data rates of up to 18M pixels/s with 14 bit deep data, allowing to take into account non linear effects to access the full NETD by accurate reduction of residual fixed pattern noise. The main features of these modules are summarized together with measured performance data for long range detection systems with moderately fast to slow F-numbers like F/2.0-F/3.5. An outlook shows most recent activities at AIM, heading for multicolor and faster frame rate detector modules based on MCT devices.
