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US 6,297,496 B1Granted
Photodetectors with passive thermal radiation control
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsShawn-Yu Lin, James G. Fleming, Brian W. Dodson
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Abstract
A new class of photodetectors which include means for passive shielding against undesired thermal radiation is disclosed. Such devices can substitute in applications currently requiring cooled optical sensors, such as IR detection and imaging. This description is included for purposes of searching, and is not intended to limit or otherwise influence the interpretation of the present invention.
Claims12
A thermal radiation shielded photodetector, comprising:
- a) a photosensor sensitive to a band of photon energies;
- and,
- b) a coating upon said photosensor comprising a photonic medium having a photonic structure extending over said band of photon energies, including a narrow defect-mediated passband.
A thermal radiation shielded photodetector, comprising:
- a) a photosensor sensitive to a band of photon energies;
- b) an enclosure for said photosensor, comprising an optical aperture;
- and,
- c) a thermal radiation control coating comprising a photonic medium having low emissivity for said band of photon energies and covering substantially all areas of said enclosure having direct or reflected line of sight access to said photosensor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.