Author ORCID Identifier:

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7336-7887

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Materials Engineering (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Materials Science & Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Yu, Shui-Qing

Committee Member

Du, Wei

Second Committee Member

Forcherio, Gregory

Third Committee Member

Salamo, Gregory

Fourth Committee Member

Churchill, Hugh

Fifth Committee Member

Kohanek, Julia

Keywords

Camera; CMOS; Evaluation; Germanium; Infrared; Recovery

Abstract

Short-wave infrared imagers made of germanium are a promising way to extend silicon-compatible imaging beyond the visible spectrum. They also use mature CMOS fabrication and readout electronics. This thesis details the recovery, initialization, and evaluation of a germanium focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera system using both a sealed TriWave camera and a modular prototype platform. Functionality was restored to this legacy hardware, and repeatable testing workflows were established for evaluating packaged infrared imagers under controlled indoor and outdoor conditions. The prototype used a custom software interface named Merlott for evaluation, and it followed a standard sequence that included checking register synchronization, fixed integration time operation, dark-frame capture and subtraction, histogram evaluation and pixel statistics, and gain-dependent imaging assessment. In parallel, the sealed TriWave camera followed a structured workflow progressing from board-level validation and initial system boot through video output verification and into temperature-controlled, indoor, and outdoor imaging tests to confirm full system functionality. Measurements were performed at multiple temperatures to determine thermal effects on imager performance. The resulting workflows enable consistent comparison of germanium imagers and provide a foundation for evaluating future alternative materials such as GeSn for infrared imaging applications.

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