Room-temperature, thin-film, PbS photoconductive detector hardened against laser damage

US4117329A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Melvin R. Kruer · Oxon Hill, US
• Leon Esterowitz · Springfield, US
• Filbert J. Bartoli · Upper Marlboro, US
• Roger E. Allen · Alexandria, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 22, 1977
• Grant date: Sep 26, 1978
• Expiry date: Apr 22, 1997

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10F77/60

Abstract

A photoconductive detector comprising a thin film of photoconductive material deposited on a thin substrate of high thermal conductivity having a surface area that is large relative to the detector's absorbing surface area. The back surface of the substrate is metalized and soldered to a high-thermal-conductivity, large-thermal-mass heat buffer which is coupled to a heat sink. The resulting detector is hardened against damage resulting from laser irradiation.