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US 2017/0248471 A1Published application
Spherical detector arrays implemented using passive detector structures for thermal imaging applications
AssigneeDigital Direct Ir, Inc.
InventorsPeter N. Kaufman, Howard E. Carpenter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Spherical detector array devices are provided, which are implemented using passive detector structures for thermal imaging applications. Passive detector structures are configured with unpowered, passive front-end detector structures with direct-to-digital measurement data output for detecting incident photonic radiation in the thermal IR portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claims10
An imaging device, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a plurality of different levels of concentric step structures that are disposed at different heights to emulate a spherical surface, wherein each concentric step structure comprises a least one thermal infrared detector formed thereon, wherein the thermal infrared detector comprises:
- a piezoelectric resonator member formed of a piezoelectric material that is configured to molecularly resonate in response to a drive voltage and generate an output signal having a frequency or period of oscillation;
- an electrically unpowered detector member, wherein the electrically unpowered defector member is configured for exposure to incident thermal infrared radiation, wherein the electrically unpowered detector member comprises a material having a thermal coefficient of expansion that causes the electrically unpowered detector member to distort due to absorption of said incident thermal infrared radiation, wherein the electrically unpowered detector member is further configured to apply a mechanical force to the piezoelectric resonator member due to said distortion of the electrically unpowered detector member, and cause a change in a frequency or period, of oscillation of the output signal generated by the piezoelectric resonator member due to said mechanical force applied to the piezoelectric resonator member;
- and
- a thermal insulating member configured to thermally insulate the piezoelectric resonator member from the electrically unpowered detector member;
- and
- digital circuitry configured to (i) determine the frequency or period of oscillation of the output signal generated by the piezoelectric resonator member as a result of the mechanical force applied to the piezoelectric resonator member by the electrically unpowered detector member, and to (ii) determine an amount of said incident thermal infrared radiation exposure based on the determined frequency or period of oscillation of the output signal generated by the piezoelectric resonator member.
4 more elements
An imaging device, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a spherical surface and an array of thermal infrared detectors formed on the spherical surface of the substrate, wherein each thermal infrared detector comprises:
- a piezoelectric resonator member formed of a piezoelectric material that is configured to molecularly resonate in response to a drive voltage and generate an output signal having a frequency or period of oscillation;
- an electrically unpowered detector member, wherein the electrically unpowered detector member is configured for exposure to incident thermal infrared radiation, wherein the electrically unpowered detector member comprises a material having a thermal coefficient of expansion that causes the electrically unpowered detector member to distort due to absorption of said incident thermal infrared radiation, wherein the electrically unpowered detector member is further configured to apply a mechanical force to the piezoelectric resonator member due to said distortion of the electrically unpowered detector member, and cause a change in a frequency or period of oscillation of the output signal generated by the piezoelectric resonator member due to said mechanical force applied to the piezoelectric resonator member;
- and
- a thermal insulating member configured to thermally insulate the piezoelectric resonator member from the electrically unpowered detector member;
- and
- digital circuitry configured to (i) determine the frequency or period of oscillation of the output signal generated by the piezoelectric resonator member as a result of the mechanical force applied to the piezoelectric resonator member by the electrically unpowered detector member, and to (ii) determine an amount of said incident thermal infrared radiation exposure based on the determined frequency or period of oscillation of the output signal generated by the piezoelectric resonator member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.