摘要:
Method of stress-aligning a thermally sensitive element may comprise the step of forming a thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80). The thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80) may be crystallized. A stress alignment layer (82) may be formed in communication with the thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80). The thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80) may be heated above a transition temperature of the thermally sensitive material. The stress alignment layer (82) may be expanded relative to the thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80). The thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80) may be cooled below the transition temperature of the thermally sensitive material. The stress alignment layer (82) may be compressed relative to the thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80) as the thin film layer of thermally sensitive material (80) cools below the transition temperature to preferentially-order crystals of the thermally sensitive material.
摘要:
A mesa-type structure (52) is formed from polyimide (or a similar polymer material) to achieve a supporting structure for mounting a focal plane array (30 and 130) on an integrated circuit substrate (70 and 170). In an exemplary thermal imaging system (20 and 120), a thermal isolation structure (50 and 150) is disposed on an integrated circuit substrate (70 and 170) for electrically connecting and mechanically bonding a corresponding focal plane array (30 and 130) of thermal sensors (40 and 140). Each mesa-type structure (52 and 152) initially includes a polyimide mesa (54) over which is formed a reinforcing layer (56 and 156) and a metal conductor (58, 158 and 168) that extends from the top of the mesa-type structure (52 and 152) to an adjacent contact pad (72, 172 and 174). After the focal plane array (30 and 130) is bonded to the corresponding array of mesa-type structures (52 and 152), the polyimide mesas (54) are removed to create void spaces (60 and 160). The resulting mesa-type structures (52 and 152) provide a thermally isolated, but electrically conductive path between the sensor signal electrode (44 and 144) of each thermal sensor (40 and 140) and the corresponding contact pad (72 and 172) on the integrated circuit substrate (70 and 170).
摘要:
A video system is disclosed having a weapon-mounted video camera (12) transmitting video signals to a remotely located video display (14). The video display is mounted to the helmet (40) of a soldier (36), and includes a sight reticle (50) superimposed on the image of the target (46) so that the soldier (36) can aim the weapon (38) by moving it until the target object (46) as displayed by the video display (14) is aligned with the sight reticle (50). A low probability of transmission interception of the video signals is accomplished by using a nonvisible light carrier wavelength in free space, which wavelength is characterized by a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric water vapor.
摘要:
The capacitive bolometer comprises a detection capacitor having a first-order phase transition ferroelectric material between two electrodes. The detection capacitor operates during a detection step and a subsequent readout step. During the detection step, a preselected electric field is applied to the detection capacitor to maximize its sensitivity to temperature. A second electric field is applied to the capacitor during the readout step in order to increase responsivity of the detection cell. The detection cells according to the invention can be assembled into disclosed detection arrays.
摘要:
A video system is disclosed having a weapon-mounted video camera (12) transmitting video signals to a remotely located video display (14). The video display is mounted to the helmet (40) of a soldier (36), and includes a sight reticle (50) superimposed on the image of the target (46) so that the soldier (36) can aim the weapon (38) by moving it until the target object (46) as displayed by the video display (14) is aligned with the sight reticle (50). A low probability of transmission interception of the video signals is accomplished by using a nonvisible light carrier wavelength in free space, which wavelength is characterized by a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric water vapor.
摘要:
An infrared detector assembly comprising a substrate of suitable material such as sapphire, an infrared detector array attached to the substrate, a cold shield attached to the detector array, and an optical microphonics filter attached to the cold shield is disclosed. The optical microphonics filter includes a substrate of material having its major surfaces coated with layers of thin film coatings for passing a preselected frequency band, and a metalization for reflecting spurious energy impinging thereon thereby shielding the filter's substrate and coatings therefrom.
摘要:
Microbolometer pixel structures including membrane material in a current path between at least two spaced electrodes, the membrane material having multiple openings defined in the current path that are configured such that substantially the entire volume of electrically conductive membrane material in at least a portion of the current path contributes to conduction of current between the electrical contacts.
摘要:
Read-out cell systems are disclosed for image detectors, including infrared image detectors, that provide improved sensitivity by providing in-cell subtraction through the use of a voltage ramp signal generated using a reference pixel and a feedback amplifier. The ramp voltage is generated using a reference pixel and an amplifier having feedback. The ramp voltage is then provided to a plurality of read-out cells. The ramp voltage can be coupled to an input transistor to provide current subtraction prior to the integration node. The ramp voltage can also be provided to integration capacitors within the read-out cells to provide current subtraction directly to the integration node. Further, a temperature-independent fixed current source can also be utilized to further control current subtraction.
摘要:
A pyroelectric detector system, the pyroelectric detector element therefor and the method of making the detector element which comprises an integrated circuit (1) and a pyroelectric detector element (7) coupled to the integrated circuit and thermally isolated from the integrated circuit. The element includes a lead-containing pyroelectric layer having a pair of opposing surfaces and having a thickness to provide a resonant cavity for radiations in a predetermined frequency range. A bottom electrode (5) opaque to radiations in the predetermined frequency range is secured to one of the pair of opposing surfaces and a top electrode (9, 11) is secured to the other of the pair of opposing surfaces which is semi-transparent to radiations in the predetermined frequency range. The top electrode is taken from the group consisting of platinum and nichrome. The lead-containing pyroelectric layer is preferably lead titanate.
摘要:
Thermal sensor (36) may include a thermally sensitive element (50), a first thin film electrode (52) and a second thin film electrode (54). The thermally sensitive element (50) may include a plurality of preferentially-ordered crystals. The first thin film electrode (52) may include a plurality of digits (53) in communication with the thermally sensitive element (50). The digits (53) of the first thin film electrode (52) may be in spaced relation with one another. The second thin film electrode (54) may include a plurality of digits (55) in communication with the thermally sensitive element (50) opposite the first thin film electrode (52). The digits (55) of the second thin film electrode (54) may be in spaced relation with one another and in spaced interposed relation with the digits (53) of the first thin film electrode (52).