Radiation detector arrangements and methods
US4853538A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1988 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2005/202
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Infrared, mm-wave or other radiation (100) is detected with at least one detector element in the form of a temperature-sensitive resistor (1) having a high positive temperature coefficient, e.g. 100 micro-ohm.multidot.cm.multidot.K.sup.-1. A sufficiently high voltage V is applied across the resistor (1) by means of a circuit (Vb,T1) so that, in accordance with the invention, the resistor (1) passes a sufficient current (I) as to raise its temperature by Joule heating to a position at which a further increase in its temperature in response to incident radiation (100) reduces the Joule heating by reducing the current (I), thereby stabilizing the temperature of the resistor (1). This varying current (I) through the resistor (1) is measured (e.g. as a voltage V' by means of a transconductance amplifier A) to provide a signal indicative of the power of the incident radiation (100). The change in the Joule heating produced by a change in the temperature of the resistor (1) at this position is larger (e.g. more than 10 times larger) than a change in power of the incident radiation (100) required to produce that same change in temperature of the resistor (1) in the absence of any change in…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.