MEMS based space safety infrared sensor apparatus and method
US7145455B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B29/046
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A space safety apparatus monitoring a volume of space encompassing a field of view (FOV) for detecting an intrusion including a gas or vapor, and includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) having mirror elements in a mirror array for reflecting infra-red (IR) energy beam collected from the FOV and an IR energy detector for detecting the IR energy reflected by the MEMS array and converting the IR energy to an output signal. A processor adjusts an angle of an element of the MEMS mirror array by varying a control signal, or by switching from one to another focusing element. The method includes detection in a volume of space by positioning a MEMS mirror array to reflect IR signal with respect to active elements of an IR detector; and collecting IR energy from an ith portion of the FOV.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.