Abstract: An Infra Red detector system and method are disclosed for a SAR ADC capable of operation at low power and for use on a Focal Plane Array FPA) detector. High power consumption makes known converter approaches unattractive for use on Focal Plane Array (FPA) detectors that are to be cooled to cryogenic temperatures. Many such ADCs are used on a FPA detector (e.g., up to one ADC per column of the imaging array) to digitize image data for the whole array at standard frame rates. Increased power makes cooling difficult to achieve or unattractive at system level. An exemplary system as disclosed can use an adaptive approach to set the comparator gain and settling time depending on the dynamics of the input signal, thereby achieving specified performance while reducing overall power.

Abstract: An Infra Red detector system and method are disclosed for a SAR ADC capable of operation at low power and for use on a Focal Plane Array FPA) detector. High power consumption makes known converter approaches unattractive for use on Focal Plane Array (FPA) detectors that are to be cooled to cryogenic temperatures. Many such ADCs are used on a FPA detector (e.g., up to one ADC per column of the imaging array) to digitise image data for the whole array at standard frame rates. Increased power makes cooling difficult to achieve or unattractive at system level. An exemplary system as disclosed can use an adaptive approach to set the comparator gain and settling time depending on the dynamics of the input signal, thereby achieving specified performance whilst reducing overall power.