Infrared detection system and method with distributed signal amplification and sampling
US5324944A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/583
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Individual processing cells are provided in close proximity to each detector element in an infrared detector array. Signals generated by the detectors in response to incident infrared radiation are converted to amplified voltages by their respective processing cells, with all of the cells sampling and holding their respective amplified signals simultaneously. The signals held by the various cells are then read out serially during the next cycle of alternating exposures and shadings by a rotating chopper. The amplified signals of all the cells are simultaneously reset at the beginning of each chopper cycle. The simultaneous sampling and holding allows all of the held pixel signals to represent equal periods of exposure or shading, while the local voltage conversion and signal amplification at each processing cell substantially improves the final signal-to-noise ratio.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.