Structurally reinforced composite cold shield for use in infrared sensors or other devices

A system comprising:

• a housing;
• an infrared detector;
• one or more strut members each coupled on a first end to the housing;
• and
• a cold shield coupled to the infrared detector and to a second end of each of the one or more strut members, the cold shield comprising a reinforcement ring aligned with the one or more strut members.

An apparatus comprising:

• a top surface adapted to couple to a variable aperture mechanism (VAM), the top surface having an opening configured to align with an aperture of the VAM;
• a bottom portion configured to couple to a cooled object;
• a contact portion configured to couple to a strut, wherein the top surface, bottom portion and contact portion form a continuous body;
• a plurality of baffles within the continuous body, each of the baffles having an opening configured to align with the aperture of the VAM;
• and
• a reinforcement ring disposed to be aligned with the strut when the strut is coupled to the continuous body.