High sensitivity infrared sensing apparatus and related method thereof
AssigneeUniversity of Virginia Patent Foundation
InventorsMichael L. Reed, Travis N. Blalock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The infrared (IR) sensing apparatus (101) and related method achieves improvement over traditional infrared sensors by levitating or suspending the IR platform (103) to reduce the loss of IR energy, which normally dissipates in the form of heat. The levitating IR sensitive platform (123) of the present invention has no contact with the substrate (110) during energy absorption, thus eliminating a substantial disadvantage existing in the conventional systems proposed heretofore.
Claims57
An IR energy sensing apparatus comprising:
- a substrate;
- an IR energy sensor member for receiving incident IR energy;
- a readout circuit operatively connected to said substrate, whereby said readout circuit being adapted for measuring level of incident IR energy received by said sensor member;
- and
- a levitation mechanism operatively connected to said sensor member for levitating said sensor member, said levitated sensor member having no physical or thermal contact while receiving incident IR energy.
An IR sensing apparatus comprising:
- a substrate;
- an IR sensor member for receiving incident IR energy;
- a readout circuit operatively connected to said substrate, whereby said readout circuit being adapted for measuring level of incident IR energy received by said sensor member;
- and
- a levitation mechanism operatively connected to said sensor member for levitating said sensor member, said levitated sensor member having no physical or thermal contact while receiving incident IR energy.
An IR energy sensing apparatus comprising:
- a substrate;
- an IR energy sensor member for receiving incident IR energy;
- a readout circuit operatively connected to said substrate, whereby said readout circuit being adapted for measuring level of incident IR energy received by said sensor member;
- at least one support structure positioned between said substrate and said sensor member to provide for said sensor member to be proximately-spaced from said substrate, wherein one end of said support being attached to said substrate and the other end being attached to said sensor member;
- and
- a shift actuator operatively connected to said sensor member, wherein:
- said shift actuator is energized at a first level said shift actuator allows said sensor member to remain in a proximately-spaced distance from said substrate without making electrical contact with said readout circuit;
- and
- said shift actuator is energized at a second level, said shift actuator causes said sensor member to reposition, whereby said sensor member makes physical contact with said readout circuit so as to form a direct electrical coupling contact between said sensor member, whereby said readout circuit being capable of interrogating said energy sensor member.
An IR energy sensing apparatus comprising:
- a substrate;
- an IR energy sensor member for receiving incident IR energy;
- a readout circuit adapted for measuring level of incident IR energy received by said sensor;
- at least one support structure positioned between said substrate and said sensor member to provide for said sensor member to be proximately-spaced from said substrate, wherein one end of said support being attached to said substrate and the other end being attached to said sensor member;
- and
- a shift actuator operatively connected to said sensor member, wherein while said shift actuator is energized at a first level said shift actuator allows said sensor member to remain in a proximately-spaced distance from said substrate without making electrical contact with said readout circuit, whereby an indirect electrical coupling between said sensor member and said readout circuit is formed, whereby said readout circuit is capable of interrogating said sensor member.
A method of sensing IR energy comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) providing a readout circuit;
- c) receiving incident IR energy using an IR energy sensor member;
- and
- d) levitating said IR energy sensor member, said levitated sensor member having no physical or thermal contact while receiving IR energy.
A method of sensing IR energy comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) providing a readout circuit;
- c) receiving incident IR energy using an IR energy sensor member;
- and
- d) levitating said IR energy sensor member, said levitated sensor member having no physical or thermal contact while receiving IR energy.
The method of sensing IR energy according to claim 42, whereby said sensor member is proximately-spaced from said substrate and said readout circuit so as to avoid any physical contact with said substrate, said readout circuit, or any other structures, whereby the spacing provides an indirect electrical coupling between said sensor member and said readout circuit, whereby said readout circuit is capable of interrogating said sensor member.
A method of sensing IR energy comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) providing a readout circuit;
- c) receiving incident IR energy using an IR energy sensor member;
- d) physically suspending said IR energy sensor member at a first position proximately-spaced from said substrate and said readout circuit;
- and
- e) physically suspending said sensor member at a second position, periodically, whereby said sensor member is in direct electrical coupling contact with said readout circuit, whereby said readout circuit is capable of interrogating said sensor member.
A method of sensing IR energy comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) providing a readout circuit;
- c) receiving incident IR energy using an IR energy sensor member;
- and
- d) physically suspending said IR energy sensor member proximately-spaced from said substrate and said readout circuit, whereby the spacing provides an indirect electrical coupling between said sensor member and said readout circuit, whereby said readout circuit is capable of interrogating said sensor member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.