EP0213421A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infrared detector assembly having vacuum chambers
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1986-08-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A miniature detector refrigerator assembly for use in infrared imaging systems incorporates a miniature Joule-Thomson laminar refrigerator (10) which serves as the substrate for the detector subassembly (12), electrical leads (50,52), as well as the primary structural element of the assembly. The detector subassembly is positioned on the cold region (14) of the refrigerator, surrounded by at least on vacuum chamber (20,21) and capped by an optical window (28) or filter as required. As a result, the detector is cooled in a small and relatively inexpensive package that can operate intermittently or continuously, as desired (Figure 1).
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Jungkman
- 👤 Thomas M. Brennan
- 👤 Peter N. Nicholson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:17
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D19/00; F25D19/006; G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/06; G01J5/061; H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
Apparatus for receiving infrared energy from a scene of interest, said receiver having a refrigerator dewar device, said apparatus, characterized by A. said refrigerator device comprising: (i) an upper surface and a lower surface, (ii) means for cooling a first region (14) of said refrigerator device (10), (iii) a second region (outside line 11) which remains substantially at the ambient temperature of said infrared energy apparatus and (iv) a third region (31) for heat exchange, said third region at an intermediate temperature between that of said first region (14) and said second region; B. a detector assembly (12) having one or more detector elements mounted on said upper surface of said refrigerator device (10) in said first region (14) such that said detector assembly is cooled by operation of said refrigerator device; C. an electrically conductive pattern .(40,42) applied to said upper surface of said refrigerator device, said pattern having electrical leads to enable electrical connection to said detector elements of said detector assembly; D. a vacuum chamber means (20,21:30,32,70) for thermally insulating said first region (14) and said third region (31) from ambient environments, said vacuum chamber means shaped such that energy entering said receiver from said scene of interest may be collected and measured by said detector assembly (12); and E. an optically transparent means (28), coupled to said vacuum chamber means (20) over said first region (14) such that energy of the desired waveband from said scene of interest may be collected and measured by said detector assembly (12).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
Apparatus for receiving infrared energy from a scene of interest, said receiver having a refrigerator dewar device, said apparatus, characterized by A. said refrigerator device comprising: (i) an upper surface and a lower surface, (ii) means for cooling a first region (14) of said refrigerator device (10), (iii) a second region (outside line 11) which remains substantially at the ambient temperature of said infrared energy apparatus and (iv) a third region (31) for heat exchange, said third region at an intermediate temperature between that of said first region (14) and said second region; B. a detector assembly (12) having one or more detector elements mounted on said upper surface of said refrigerator device (10) in said first region (14) such that said detector assembly is cooled by operation of said refrigerator device; C. an electrically conductive pattern .(40,42) applied to said upper surface of said refrigerator device, said pattern having electrical leads to enable electrical connection to said detector elements of said detector assembly; D. a vacuum chamber means (20,21:30,32,70) for thermally insulating said first region (14) and said third region (31) from ambient environments, said vacuum chamber means shaped such that energy entering said receiver from said scene of interest may be collected and measured by said detector assembly (12); and E. an optically transparent means (28), coupled to said vacuum chamber means (20) over said first region (14) such that energy of the desired waveband from said scene of interest may be collected and measured by said detector assembly (12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that said refrigerator device comprises a miniature planar disc-shaped refrigerator (10) having said first region (14) located substantially at the center of said disc shape, and said refrigerator device having said third region (31) located substantially around said first region and said second region along the circumference of said disc shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said vacuum chamber means (20,21) is hermetic and comprises an upper member (29,28) bonded to the upper surface of said refrigerator device (10), a lower member (26) bonded to the lower surface of said refrigerator device, and means (22) included in said refrigerator device, for connecting said upper vacuum member to said lower vacuum member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of claim 3, characterized in that said means for connecting is a hole (22) in said refrigerator device (10), said hole including the vacuum in said upper and lower vacuum members (20,21).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
35 words
An apparatus of one of the preceding claims, characterized by a getter (55) for maintaining said vacuum in said vacuum chamber means (20,21) and wherein said getter is mounted in said lower vacuum member (21).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said upper vacuum member (29,28) includes a sidewall (29) enclosing the sides of said upper vacuum member (20) and wherein said optically transparent means (28) is substantially all of the top surface of said upper vacuum member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as in claim 6, characterized in that said side (29) of said upper vacuum member (28,29) is coupled by use of a glass frit to said top surface of said refrigerator device (10) so as to provide a hermetic seal for said vacuum and without affecting said electrical leads, and said lower vacuum member is coupled to said lower surface of said refrigerator device by use of a glass frit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
36 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 3 to 7, characterized by a pinch off tube (56) mounted in said lower vacuum member 26 to seal off said vacuum chamber after the vacuum is established insiede.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vacuum chamber means comprise F. a first prefabricated vacuum chamber (30,70) positioned with respect to said refrigerator device (10) such that said first (14) and said third (31) region are thermally separated from the ambient environment of said second region; G. a second prefabricated vacuum chamber (32) positioned in close proximity on the side of said refrigerator device opposite said first chamber (30) in order to provide thermal isolation of said detector assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus of claim 9, characterized in that said first vacuum chamber (30) is annular in shape and has a passage (29) positioned substantially about said detector assembly (12) such that energy from said scene of interest may be collected and measured by said detector assembly through said passage (Fir. 3).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that said optical transparent means (28) is coupled to said first vacuum chamber (30) over said passage (29).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus of claim 9, 10 or 11, charac- terized by means (13) for preferential condensation of gases within said first region (14), said means for preferential condensation of gases substantially in proximity with said detector assembly (12).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus of claim 12, characterized in that said means (13) for condensation may be made from a piece of high thermally conductive material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 9 to 13, characterized in that said first region (14) is filled with a low thermally conductive gas to preclude water vapor and minimize conductive heat load.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus of claim 14, characterized in that said gas may be xenon, carbon dioxide or any other low thermal conductive gas.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that first region (14) is filled with a gas having low thermal conductivity and an intermediate boiling point in order to provide partial vacuum during the operation of said apparatus.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 9 to 16, characterized in that said second vacuum chamber means (32) is disk shaped and is substantially the same diameter as said refrigerator device (10).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
48 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 9 to 17, characterized in that said first chamber (30) is coupled to said refrigerator device (1.0) so as to form a first small dead air space (65) to eliminate convective heat flow and thereby provide further,insulation of said detector assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus of claim 18, characterized in that said second chamber (32) is coupled to said refrigerator device (10) so as to form a second small dead air space (66) to eliminate convective heat flow and thereby provide further insulation of said detector assembly.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 9 to 19, characterized by a collar (24) positioned around said refrigerator device (10) and around substantially all of said first (30) and second (32) vacuum chambers.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
55 words
An apparatus of one of the claims 9 to 20, characterized by an internal chamber (29) surrounding said detector assembly (12) and positioned in said first region (14), said chamber filled with low thermally conductive gas including a second optically transparent means (41) positioned to pass energy received through said first optically transparent means (28).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
115 words
An apparatus of claim 9, characterized in that said first vacuum chamber (70) includes a vacuum which is located on all sides of said detector assembly (12) and over said detector assembly in a position over said first region (14), wherein said first optically transparent means (28) is coupled to said vacuum chamber means as an integral part thereof and further comprising a second optically transparent means (72) coupled to said first vacuum chamber means over said first region (14 on a side of said first vacuum chamber means opposite said first optically transparent means, and wherein said second optically transparent means (72) is an integral part of said first vacuum chamber means (Fig. 4).
Claim 24
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said refrigerator device (10) operates on the principle of the Joule-Thomson effect.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and/or second optically transparent means (28,41,72) is a spectral filter.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first optically transparent means (28) is a lens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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