Readout circuit for uncooled infrared focal plane array
US9163996B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 2014 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2005/106
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A readout circuit for an uncooled infrared focal plane array includes: a first biasing circuit for generating a detection output signal; a second biasing circuit for generating a first reference output signal; a first integration circuit; and an analog-to-digital circuit including: a ramp signal generating circuit for generating a ramp signal according to a second reference microbolometer of a third biasing circuit. In the readout circuit, subtracting and amplifying the detection output signal and the first reference output signal are provided by the integrator at an analog domain, while ratio counting is provided by an analog-to-digital converter during analog-to-digital conversion. Furthermore, a column level integrated readout channel utilizes only one reference microbolometer, and the chip level ramp signal generator also utilizes only one reference microbolometer. Therefore, a chip area is further saved, and noise sources are decreased.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.