Thermal protection mechanisms for uncooled microbolometers
US10175113B2 · kind B2 · utility
4Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2005/065
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for preventing solar damage, and other heat-related damage, to uncooled microbolometer pixels. In certain examples, at least some of the pixels of an uncooled microbolometer are configured with a bimetallic thermal shorting structure that protects the pixel(s) from excessive heat damage. In other examples a thermochroic membrane that becomes highly reflective at temperatures above a certain threshold is applied over the microbolometer pixels to prevent the pixels from being damaged by excessive heat.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.