Radiation sensor with photo-thermal gain
US6888141B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 3, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F77/407
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermal sensor for low level radiation with built-in photo-thermal gain utilizing a thin film of pyro-optical material to modulate the reflectivity and/or transmission of a photonic carrier beam. The photonic carrier beam is modulated by the temperature of the pyro-optical film and detected by typically a silicon detector. A slight temperature increase of the pyro-optical film due to absorption of low level radiation increases the coefficient of absorption of the photonic carrier beam which in turn causes a further increase in temperature of the pyro-optical film. The photonic carrier beam provides power to increase the temperature of the pyro-optical film beyond the heating caused by the absorption of low level radiation alone. This thermal amplification effect provides a radiation sensor with photo-thermal gain.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.