Passive broadband infrared optical limiter device based on a micro-optomechanical cantilever array
US7184200B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2001/0276
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An IR limiting device for a detector that is based on a micro-optomechanical cantilever array is disclosed. In the normal state, each microcantilever device in the array behaves like a mirror that reflects the infrared signal to the detector. The microcantilever device absorbs radiation outside the desired infrared region. When the radiation is stronger than a predetermined threshold, the microcantilever device bends as a result of thermo-mechanical forces, and it reflects the signal away from the detector, thereby limiting the radiation. The advantage of such a system is that each pixel in the detector can be addressed individually, and the limiting is localized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.