Thermal imager incorporating electronics module having focal plane sensor mosaic
US4806761A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1987 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/184
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A thermal imaging system is disclosed in which infrared radiation from the viewed scene is transmitted to a two-dimensional detector array carried on the focal plane of an optical/electronics module which has embedded in it amplifying, filtering and multiplexing circuitry utilizing MOSFET transistors. The module is located inside the cooling device. Cooling requirements depend on the alternatives (a) of using detectors responsive to wavelengths in the 3.0 to 5.0 micron range, which require less cooling, or (b) of using detectors responsive to wavelengths in the 8.0 to 12.0 micron range, which require liquid nitrogen cooling. The two-dimensional detector array may be combined with a limited scanning, called "nutation", which causes each detector to view a plurality of pixels in the incoming infrared radiation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.