Bolometer autocalibration

US6064066A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Malcolm J. Bevan · Dallas, US
• William L. McCardel · Plano, US
• Mark Wadsworth · Richardson, US
• Glenn H. Westphal · Dallas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 1996
• Grant date: May 16, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 19, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01J5/20
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A sensor (1400) with radiation detectors (1421-1422) with two or more bolometer or photoconductor elements and bias polarity switching of one element to emulate mechanical chopping of input radiation. This electronic chopping permits higher chopping frequencies than mechanical chopping for bolometers because the scene settling time does not limit electronic chopping. The detectors may be within a single vacuum integrated circuit package with separate narrow passband filters for chemical spectral analysis.