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US 6,610,984 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for correction of microbolometer output
AssigneeInfrared Components Corporation
InventorsJonathan P. Knauth, Steven M. Balick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for correction of temperature-induced variations in the analog output characteristics of a microbolometer detector in an infrared detecting focal plane array utilizing electronic means to correct for the temperature variation of the individual microbolometer detector. The electronic circuitry and associated software necessary for implementation is also described.
Claims26
A method of correcting the output of a microbolometer detector system, said method comprising:
- providing a microbolometer detector system for operation in an ambient temperature range, said microbolometer detector system further comprising at least one microbolometer detector, and an apparatus for reducing thermal noise;
- providing a temperature stabilization system for correcting the temperature variation of the microbolometer detector;
- providing an electronic system for conditioning the output of the microbolometer detector wherein the electronic system:
- responds to variations in a radiant flux signal from a source;
- modulates the sensitivity of the microbolometer detector to the variations in the radiant flux signals;
- converts the output from the microbolometer detector from an analog signal to a digital signal using an analog-to-digital converter;
- and
- limits the output from the microbolometer detector so that the microbolometer detector output remains within an input sensitivity range of the analog-to-digital converter;
- and
- applying a correction factor to the output signal of the microbolometer detector.
7 more elements
A method of correcting the output of a microbolometer detector system, said method comprising:
- providing a microbolometer detector system for operation in an ambient temperature range, said microbolometer detector system further comprising at least one microbolometer detector, and an apparatus for reducing thermal noise;
- said apparatus for reducing thermal noise being selected from the group consisting of a lens, a dewar window, and a cold shield;
- providing a temperature stabilization system for correcting the temperature variation of the microbolometer detector;
- providing an electronic system for conditioning the output of the microbolometer detector;
- and
- applying a correction factor to the output signal of the microbolometer detector wherein applying the correction factor to the output signal of the microbolometer detector decreases effects of temperature variations in the lens, dewar window, or cold shield.
3 more elements
A method of correcting the output of a microbolometer detector system, said method comprising:
- providing a microbolometer detector system for operation in an ambient temperature range, said microbolometer detector system further comprising at least one microbolometer detector, and an apparatus for reducing thermal noise;
- providing a temperature stabilization system for correcting the temperature variation of the microbolometer detector;
- providing an electronic system for conditioning the output of the microbolometer detector wherein the electronic system performs an algorithm to calculate a corrected offset value based on the difference between an individual microbolometer detector temperature and a baseline temperature;
- and
- applying a correction factor to the output signal of the microbolometer detector.
2 more elements
A method of correcting the output of a microbolometer detector system, said method comprising:
- providing a microbolometer detector system for operation in an ambient temperature range, said microbolometer detector system further comprising at least one microbolometer detector, and an apparatus for reducing thermal noise;
- providing a temperature stabilization system for correcting the temperature variation of the microbolometer detector;
- providing an electronic system for conditioning the output of the microbolometer detector;
- providing a system for varying the responsivity of the microbolometer;
- applying a correction factor to the output signal of the microbolometer detector.
2 more elements
An apparatus for correction of a microbolometer detector output, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one microbolometer detector;
- a thermal noise reduction system operationally connected to said at least one microbolometer detector;
- an electrical reference circuit connected to said at least one microbolometer detector;
- an output from said electrical reference circuit connected to an input of a signal conditioning circuit wherein the signal conditioning circuit further comprises:
- a differential amplifier;
- a first reference source;
- a signal processor;
- an output from said electrical reference circuit connected to a first input of said differential amplifier;
- an output from said first reference source connected to a second input of said differential amplifier;
- and
- an output from said signal processor connected to said first reference source, wherein the output of the first reference source is determined by the signal processor;
- and
- an output from said signal conditioning circuit connected to a display device.
10 more elements
An apparatus for correction of a microbolometer detector output, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one microbolometer detector;
- a thermal noise reduction system operationally connected to said at least one microbolometer detector;
- an electrical reference circuit connected to said at least one microbolometer detector;
- an output from said electrical reference circuit connected to an input of a signal conditioning circuit wherein the signal conditioning circuit contains an algorithm to calculate a corrected offset value based on the difference between an individual microbolometer detector temperature and a baseline temperature;
- and
- an output from said signal conditioning circuit connected to a display device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.