Vacuum health detection for imaging systems and methods

An imaging device comprising:

• a detector configured to generate a first reference signal;
• a buffer circuit configured to store a value of the first reference signal;
• a processing circuit coupled to the buffer circuit and configured to:
• determine a first predetermined value based on a first temperature associated with the detector;
• and
• determine vacuum integrity associated with the detector based at least on the value of the first reference signal and the first predetermined value;
• and
• an analog-to-digital converter connected to the buffer circuit and configured to generate a digital count value based on the value of the first reference signal, wherein the processing circuit is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and configured to determine the vacuum integrity based at least on the digital count value and the first predetermined value, and wherein the detector comprises a bolometer, and wherein the first temperature is a temperature of a readout circuit.

A method comprising:

• generating, by a detector, a first reference signal;
• storing, by a buffer circuit, a value of the first reference signal;
• determining, by a processing circuit, a first predetermined value based on a first temperature associated with the detector;
• and
• determining, by the processing circuit, vacuum integrity associated with the detector based at least on the value of the first reference signal and the first predetermined value,
• wherein the storing comprises receiving, by a sample-and-hold circuit of the buffer circuit, the value of the first reference signal, wherein the sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to the processing circuit,
• wherein the storing further comprises receiving, by a multiplexer circuit of the buffer circuit, the value of the first reference signal from the detector, and wherein the multiplexer circuit is coupled to the detector and the sample-and-hold circuit.