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EP0462748A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Imaging arrangement

Assignee: EMI Group Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-06-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-06-12
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Abstract

Abstract An infra-red imaging arrangement is disclosed of the kind in which an array of pyroelectric detector elements (5) is repeatedly exposed, via a chopper device (1), to infra-red energy received from a scene to be imaged. In order to improve the resolution of images derived from the arrangement, alternate exposures of the array (5) to the infra-red energy are made through different optical elements causing repeated shifts of the energy relative to the array (5). Preferably, the optical elements include simple wedges (4) or inclined plates (6) and the chopper device (1) is constrained to move linearly and progressively across the array (5).

Inventors

  • 👤 Alastair Sibbald
  • 👤 Elvin Leonard Nix
  • 👤 Brian Holfcroft
  • 👤 Donald Robert Barron

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 06:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02; G02B26/04; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/55; G02B26/08; G02B26/0875; G02B26/0883; G02B26/0891; H04N23/58

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 59 words
An infra-red imaging arrangement comprising an array of detector elements responsive to infra-red energy, means for constraining said energy as received from a region of interest to impinge upon said array and means for periodically shifting said energy relative to said array to increase the ability of said array to resolve spatially sources of said energy in said region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 33 words
An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein said means for periodically shifting comprises a chopping device moveable with respect to said array and having a plurality of apertures sequentially alignable with said array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
An arrangement according to Claim 2 wherein alternate apertures in said sequence have associated therewith optical components to shift said energy to differing extents relative to said array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein at least one of said optical components comprises a wedge-shaped component arranged to shift said energy in a selected direction relative to said array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein at least one of said optical components comprises a parallel-faced plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement according to Claim 5 wherein said plate is tilted with respect to the direction of incidence of said energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
An arrangement according to Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon including means for causing said chopping device to move relative to said array in a direction substantially orthogonally to a side of said array.

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