The objective of this project is to develop multispectral molded optics operating simultaneously in the visible/short wave infrared (SWIR) and far infrared between 8-12 µm. These optics will allow the fusion of images taken in these two complementary spectral bands with the same optic, leading to a simplification of design and fabrication as well as important decrease of cost and weight. Imaging in visible/SWIR and in far infrared has many applications still in rapid growth. The fusion of the two complementary images will lead to many new applications both in commercial and defense fields. As an example, for car driving assistance, visible/SWIR image is better for reading road indications and for detecting the presence of ice on the road. Thermal image is much better for seeing further and pedestrians in foggy condition and during the night. For defense applications, it is, for example, easier to move in the dark with intensified SWIR image and thermal imaging is indispensible to detect hidden hot target. There are many optics operating either in the visible/SWIR region or in the far infrared region. Only two materials, known since long time, ZnS and ZnSe, can be considered for producing multispectral optics even they cover only partially these two spectral bands. These materials are fabricated with the long and expensive chemical vapor deposition (CVD). They are polycrystalline materials and consequently, no molded optic is possible. The only way to produce complex asphero-diffractive optics, indispensable with these materials, is to use the expensive single point diamond tuning. In this project, we propose to - develop some new glasses transparent from visible to far infrared up to 12 µm. - develop a molding process for fabricating multispectral optics - develop large band antireflection coating - study some potential applications with the multispectral optics. One commercial application and one defense application will be proposed. The originality and novelty of this project are associated with the following - Completely new glasses transparent from visible to far infrared will be developed. The base compositions are protected by a CNRS patent which has been extended to most industrialized countries. - The first molded multispectral optic will be developed - A system with fused visible/SWIR image and thermal image will be proposed with the same entrance optic, leading to simplified design and fabrication. This should be considered as breaking technological innovation. This consortium is composed of an academic laboratory and an industrial partner well recognized in their field of expertises, with a long term relationship of successful cooperations. These cooperations have, for example, allowed the industrialization of molded infrared optics which are installed in the BMW cars for driving assistance and also in the infrared cameras of the World most important manufacturer.

This project will research new technologies for CMOS image sensors that are needed in the next generation of several application domains. The image sensor research will focus on enhancing the capabilities of current imaging devices: • New design (architectures) and technology (e.g. 3D stacking) for better pixels (lower noise, higher dynamic range, new functionality within the pixel) and more pixels (higher spatial and temporal resolutions) at higher speed, time-of-flight pixels, local (on-chip) image processing, embedded CCD in CMOS TDI pixels. • Extended sensitivity and functionality of the pixels: extension into infrared, filters for hyper-and multi-spectral imaging, better colour filters, programmable filters with LCD cells. Application domains that will be covered are: • Digital Lifestyle: Broadcast, Digital Cinema & Entertainment, Smart home (Grass Valley, Angenieux, Silios, Delft University of Technology, SoftKinetic) • Smart Production (IMEC, C-cam) • High-end Security (Adimec, Angenieux, Le2i, TNO) • Agriculture and food sorting using hyper- and multi-spectral imaging and programmable filters (Silios, Le2i) • Medical healthcare: diagnostics using multi-/hyper-spectral imaging and programmable filters (Adimec, TNO, Silios, Quest and Focal) • Gas detection using multi spectral IR imagers (Sofradir) • Security: gas sensing (Sofradir) The prototype CMOS image sensors for several application domains will be demonstrated together with the sensor related processing.