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US 11,381,760 B2Granted
Infrared imager and related systems
OwnerJames Scholtzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infrared imaging apparatus having thin film spatial filters in a stacked array to filter and collate light generated internally by the infrared imaging apparatus such that the light generated impacts a detection area of the imaging apparatus at or near a critical angle. The index of refraction of the detection area being subject to change when irradiated with infrared light such that the amount of light generated internally and reflected to a light detector attached to the imaging apparatus varies with the intensity of the irradiating infrared light.
Claims18
A spatial filter for the efficient transmission of light in a narrow range of angles at or near a critical angle, the spatial filter comprising:
- a substrate adapted for coupling with a light source;
- a core layer with a high refractive index disposed on at least a portion of a first side of the substrate;
- an anti-reflective layer with a near critical angle and an index of refraction less than said core layer;
- and
- a cladding detection layer with a low refractive index which is less than said refractive index of said anti-reflective layer;
- wherein said anti-reflective layer has a first side and second side, said first side of said anti-reflective layer is connected to a side of said cladding detection layer and said second side of said anti-reflective layer is connected to a first side of said core layer and where injected light from the light source optically coupled to a second side of said substrate is refracted through said core layer and through said anti-reflective layer and thereby enters said cladding detection layer at a predetermined angle near a critical angle of said injected light.
3 more elements
An optical infrared (IR) imager, comprising:
- a transparent substrate layer;
- a light source and a light detector spaced apart laterally relative to one another on a first side of said substrate layer;
- a spatial filter disposed on a second side of said substrate layer, a first side of said spatial filter optically connected to said substrate, the spatial filter including an anti-reflective layer with a near critical angle;
- and
- a cladding detection layer disposed on a second side of said spatial filter, said cladding detection layer having a refractive index that is modulated by infrared light incident on an exterior surface of said cladding detection layer;
- wherein when said light source injects light into said substrate, said injected light passes through said substrate into said spatial filter, said injected light is spectrally and spatially filtered by wave interference and strong refraction such that said injected light impinges said cladding at a predetermined angle near a critical angle of said injected light, and
- when infrared light impinges said exterior surface of said cladding detection layer said refractive index of said cladding detection layer is modulated and thereby changes the amount of injected light reflected through said spatial filter from said cladding detection layer through said spatial filter to said light detector;
- wherein said predetermined angle is at or slightly more than a critical angle of incidence of said injected light when no infrared light impinges on said exterior surface of said cladding detection layer and said injected light is thereby reflected from said cladding detection layer down through said spatial filter and said substrate to said light detector, and when infrared light impinges said exterior surface of said cladding detection layer said refractive index of said cladding detection layer is modulated such that said predetermined angle of said injected light is less than said critical angle of incidence and said injected light passes out through said exterior surface of said cladding detection layer, thereby changing an amount of said injected light which is reflected off of said cladding detection layer down through said spatial filter to said light detector.
5 more elements
An optical infrared (IR) imager, comprising:
- a transparent substrate layer;
- a light source and a light detector spaced apart laterally relative to one another on a first side of said substrate layer;
- a spatial filter disposed on a second side of said substrate layer, a first side of said spatial filter optically connected to said substrate, the spatial filter including an anti-reflective layer with a near critical angle;
- and
- a cladding detection layer disposed on a second side of said spatial filter, said cladding detection layer having a refractive index that is modulated by infrared light incident on an exterior surface of said cladding detection layer;
- wherein when said light source injects light into said substrate, said injected light passes through said substrate into said spatial filter, said injected light is spectrally and spatially filtered by wave interference and strong refraction such that said injected light impinges said cladding at a predetermined angle near a critical angle of said injected light, and
- when infrared light impinges said exterior surface of said cladding detection layer said refractive index of said cladding detection layer is modulated and thereby changes the amount of injected light reflected through said spatial filter from said cladding detection layer through said spatial filter to said light detector;
- wherein said light source and said light detector are optically connected to said substrate by a connection system comprising at least one of an index matching epoxy, a prism, a Fresnel prism micro array, a fluorescent array, and a diffraction layer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.