Mr. Robert E. Mills Profile

Robert E. Mills

Senior Focal Plane Engineer at RTX Corp

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Author

Publications (9)

Proceedings Article | 17 September 2011 Paper

Evolution of large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications

Robert Mills, Eric Beuville, Elizabeth Corrales, Alan Hoffman, Gert Finger, Derek Ives

Proceedings Volume 8154, 81540R (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897292

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Astronomy, Space telescopes, James Webb Space Telescope, Telescopes, Quantum efficiency, Readout integrated circuits, Staring arrays, Mid-IR, Packaging

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Proceedings Article | 26 August 2010 Paper

High-performance large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications

Robert Mills, John Edwards, Eric Beuville, Andrew Toth, Elizabeth Corrales, Neil Therrien, Jeff Kissel, Gert Finger

Proceedings Volume 7780, 778003 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862264

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Astronomy, Quantum efficiency, Readout integrated circuits, Staring arrays, Space telescopes, Nondestructive evaluation, James Webb Space Telescope, Semiconducting wafers, Infrared sensors

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Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) has developed a family of high performance large format infrared detector arrays whose detectors are most effective for the detection of long and very long wavelength infrared energy. This paper describes the state of the art in mega-pixel Si:As Impurity Band Conduction (IBC) arrays and relevant system applications that offers unique off-the-shelf solutions to the astronomy community. Raytheon's Aquarius-1k, developed in collaboration with ESO, is a 1024 × 1024 pixel high performance array with a 30μm pitch that features high quantum efficiency IBC detectors, low noise, low dark current, and on-chip clocking for ease of operation. This large format array was designed for ground-based astronomy applications but lends itself for space based platforms too. The detector has excellent sensitivity out to 27μm wavelength. The readout circuit has several programmable features such as low gain for a well capacity of 11 × 10⁶e-, high gain for a well capacity of 10⁶e- and a programmable number of outputs (16 or 64). Programmable integration time and integration modes, like snapshot, rolling and non-destructive integrations, allow the Aquarius to be used for a wide variety of applications and performance. A very fast full frame rate of 120Hz is achieved with 64 outputs (32 outputs per side) and a programmable centered windowing will accommodate a wide range of readout rates. The multiplexer and packaging design utilizes two alignment edges on the SCA which can be butted on two sides for expansion to 2k × 1k and wider focal planes. Data is shown on several focal plane arrays to demonstrate that very low noise and high quantum efficiency performance has been achieved. This array leverages over thirty years of experience in both ground and space based astronomy sensor applications. The technology has been successfully demonstrated on programs such as NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Japan's Akari Space Telescope, and will be used on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Proceedings Article | 31 July 2010 Paper

Recent focal plane arrays for astronomy and remote sensing applications at RVS

Richard Peralta, Eric Beuville, Elizabeth Corrales, John Drab, Shawn Erving, Andrew Gin, Robert Mills, Charles Rabkin

Proceedings Volume 7742, 77421L (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858290

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Staring arrays, Electronics, Space telescopes, Readout integrated circuits, Astronomy, Quantum efficiency, Optical filters, Telescopes, Visible radiation

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Proceedings Article | 17 September 2009 Paper

Advanced staring Si PIN visible sensor chip assembly for Bepi-Colombo mission to Mercury

R. Mills, J. Drab, A. Gin

Proceedings Volume 7439, 74390A (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.827036

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Readout integrated circuits, Silicon, Mercury (planet), Staring arrays, Quantum efficiency, Planets, Space operations, Visible radiation, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2003 Paper

Megapixel and larger readouts and FPAs for visible and infrared astronomy

David Gulbransen, Peter Love, Mark Murray, Nancy Lum, Christopher Fletcher, Elizabeth Corrales, Robert Mills, Alan Hoffman, Ken Ando

Proceedings Volume 4841, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459851

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Silicon, Mercury cadmium telluride, Astronomy, Staring arrays, Semiconducting wafers, Visible radiation, Infrared astronomy, Short wave infrared radiation, Readout integrated circuits

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Proceedings Article | 8 February 2002 Paper

Large-format infrared arrays for future space and ground-based astronomy applications

Peter Love, Ken Ando, Richard Bornfreund, Elizabeth Corrales, Robert Mills, Jerry Cripe, Nancy Lum, Joseph Rosbeck, Michael Smith

Proceedings Volume 4486, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.455119

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Silicon, Staring arrays, Astronomy, Mercury cadmium telluride, Readout integrated circuits, Semiconducting wafers, Short wave infrared radiation, Imaging spectroscopy, Infrared sensors

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Proceedings Article | 1 July 1992 Paper

Methodology for testing infrared focal plane arrays in simulated nuclear radiation environments

Edward Divita, Robert Mills, Thomas Koch, M. Gordon, R. Wilcox, R. Williams

Proceedings Volume 1686, (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60524

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Sensors, Electrons, Ionization, Nuclear radiation, Environmental sensing, Data acquisition, Infrared radiation, Clocks, Semiconductors

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Proceedings Article | 1 July 1992 Paper

Novel methods for cryogenic testing of infrared focal plane arrays in aCo60 radiation environment

Robert Mills

Proceedings Volume 1686, (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60526

KEYWORDS: Cryogenics, Staring arrays, Lead, Infrared radiation, Temperature metrology, Gamma radiation, Calibration, Black bodies, Infrared detectors, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 1 December 1991 Paper

488 x 640-element hybrid platinum silicide Schottky focal-plane array

James Gates, William Connelly, T. Franklin, Robert Mills, Frederick Price, Timothy Wittwer

Proceedings Volume 1540, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.48744

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Staring arrays, Infrared technology, Platinum, Infrared sensors, Infrared radiation, Optical fabrication, Infrared detectors, Signal detection, Black bodies

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Showing 5 of 9 publications

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