Paper 14040-12
Paper 14040-12
CMC electronics InGaAs quadrant detector module for precision beam tracking, alignment, and laser warning systems
29 April 2026 • 11:50 AM - 12:10 PM EDT | Chesapeake 5
Abstract
This paper presents the development of a COTS 1-mm InGaAs PIN quadrant photodetector for high precision beam tracking in Laser Spot Trackers (LSTs), Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs), Laser Warning Systems (LWS), and Free Space Optical (FSO) terminal alignment.
Targeting defense and aerospace platforms where Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) are tightly constrained, the module integrates a 1-mm active-area InGaAs PIN photodiode segmented into four quadrants with four application-specific GaAs FET transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) in a single hermetic TO-can package, delivering a compact solution optimized for high-sensitivity detection for use in mobile or ruggedized defense platforms.
The paper discusses TIA architecture selection, noise analysis, and the advantages of hybrid integration, a design approach that eliminates parasitic inductance and capacitance from printed circuit board connections. Prototype measurements demonstrate a responsivity of 4.1 MV/W at 1570 nm, a noise-equivalent power (NEP) below 350 fW/√Hz at 3 MHz bandwidth, and channel balance within ±5%, a performance that is expected to be at least 2× better in sensitivity and 3× higher in responsivity than equivalent receivers simulated with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) TIAs.
Hermetic packaging to MIL-PRF-38534 Class H ensures durability across the full military temperature range and under 3000 g constant acceleration.
Presenter
CMC Electronics Inc. (Canada)
Éric Desfonds is Senior Technical Applications Manager for the Optoelectronics Group at CMC Electronics, Montréal, Canada, where he leads product line strategy and application development for defense and aerospace electro-optical systems. With a career spanning optoelectronics design, product management, and business development, he has over two decades of experience bridging optoelectronics and fielded system requirements. At CMC, he has supported the expansion of the COTS optoelectronics product line, including InGaAs APD receivers, hybrid PIN quadrant modules, and pigtailed photodetectors, from design concept through qualification and market introduction. His technical focus covers low-noise receiver architectures, hermetic hybrid microcircuits, and SWAP-C-optimized solutions for laser ranging, laser warning, laser spot tracking, and LIDAR applications.