Mosaic infrared sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsBruce A. Deresh, Robert J. Chevako
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Abstract
A two-dimensional, AC-coupled, wide dynamic range, mosaic infrared sensor is realized by apparatus that divides incoming infrared radiation into two equal beams. Each beam is received with or without optical concentration by an infrared detector array consisting of a multiplicity of spaced, parallel columns of electrically insulated, independently wired infrared detector elements. The detector element column widths of each detector array are substantially equal to the intercolumn spaces of the other detector array and the columns of each are optically aligned with the intercolumn spaces of the other.
Claims1
A mosaic infrared sensor comprising:
- a. first and second arrays of m spaced, juxtaposed columns of n discrete, contiguous infrared detector elements, the infrared detector columns of said first array having widths substantially equal to the spacings between the infrared detector columns of said second array and the infrared detector columns of said second array having widths substantially equal to the spacings between the infrared detector columns of said first array, the infrared detector columns of each array being aligned with the intercolumn spacings of the other array;
- b. beam splitting means adapted to divide received infrared energy into first and second substantially equal sources of infrared energy, said first array being in intercepting relationship with said first source of infrared energy and said second array being in intercepting relationship with said second source of infrared energy, and
- c. an optical concentrator means disposed between said beam splitting means and each array of infrared detector element columns, each said optical concentrator means being adapted to focus infrared energy from said beam splitting means onto the infrared detector element columns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.