Detector selective FPA architecture for ultra-high FPA operability and fabrication method
AssigneeInnovative Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsDonald Lester Lee, Haluk Omer Sankur, William Victor McLevige
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A focal plane array has a plurality of detectors for each pixel of the array. The detector having the best operability for each pixel is determined and a custom microlens array is fabricated, with each lens having a focal point directed to the best detector on each pixel. A Multiplexer (MUX) similarly transmits signals from the selected detectors while blocking transmission from the non-selected detectors.
Claims28
A pixel for detecting electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
- a plurality of radiation detectors;
- and
- a lens element, optically aligned with a selected one of said detectors arranged to direct incident radiation onto said selected detector.
An FPA having an array of pixels, wherein each pixel comprises:
- a plurality of radiation detectors;
- and
- a lens element, optically aligned with a selected one of said detectors arranged to direct incident radiation onto said selected detector.
An FPA, comprising:
- an array of radiation detectors;
- an array of lenses, fewer then the number of detectors, optically aligned with respective detectors for directing radiation onto their respective detectors.
An FPA-MUX hybrid, comprising:
- a transparent substrate having opposed surfaces;
- a photosensitive layer at one of said surfaces said layer comprising an array of radiation detectors;
- respective electrical and mechanical connect bumps for said detectors;
- a microlens contour array formed in the opposed substrate surface for directing incident electromagnetic radiation and focusing said radiation to some but less then all of said detectors;
- and
- a MUX having mating bumps connected to respective connect bumps of said detectors.
A method for fabricating a Focal Plane Array (FPA) comprising the steps of:
- a) fabricating an array of pixels having a plurality of radiation detectors per pixel;
- b) selecting a detector for each pixel;
- and
- c) providing a microlens array which is optically aligned with said array of pixels, said microlens array directing incident radiation to the selected detector for each pixel.
A method for operating a focal plane array (FPA) comprising:
- providing an FPA with array of pixels having a plurality of detectors per pixel;
- directing radiation incident on said pixels onto selected detectors of said pixels;
- and
- obtaining an output signal from the selected detectors to form an output image.
A radiation detection method comprising:
- Providing alternate radiation detection sites, and
- directing incident radiation to only one of said sites based upon the respective operability of said sites.
A radiation detector, comprising:
- an array of pixels, each pixel including a plurality of mutually spaced radiation detectors;
- and
- a radiation director associated with said pixels and arranged to direct incident radiation onto only a single selected detector for each pixel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.