Patent US4100573A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4100573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermal imaging transducer and system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-09-20
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Granted: 1978-07-11
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Expires: 1996-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A wedge of ferroelectric material is used as a thermal imaging transducer by plating a multiplicity of signal generating electrodes to the surface of the ferroelectric wedge. The wedge is electronically polarized using a descending voltage and thermal images are read out of the transducer using an ascending voltage ramp of opposite polarity from the polarizing voltage. Readout is obtained without requiring mechanical panning or thermal image interruption even if the subject is stationary.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Louis Berger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:55
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C27/00; G11C27/02; G11C27/024; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/23; G11C8/00; G11C8/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A thermal imaging transducer system comprising a segmented wedge of ferroelectric material responsive to infrared radiation, means for polarizing said wedge using a descending voltage, means to electrically read a signal out of said wedge using an ascending voltage of a polarity the opposite of said descending voltage, such that the system will be responsive to a thermal image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A thermal imaging transducer system comprising a segmented wedge of ferroelectric material responsive to infrared radiation, means for polarizing said wedge using a descending voltage, means to electrically read a signal out of said wedge using an ascending voltage of a polarity the opposite of said descending voltage, such that the system will be responsive to a thermal image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The thermal imaging transducer system of claim 1 wherein said means to electrically read a signal out of said wedge includes at least one set of thermal image responsive electrodes and a set of thermally shielded reference electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermal imaging transducer system of claim 2 wherein said thermal image responsive electrodes are mounted to said wedge in a transverse direction at spaced longitudinal points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The thermal imaging transducer system of claim 2 comprising plural sets of thermal image responsive electrodes and wherein the image responsive electrodes are mounted at distinct longitudinal and lateral points upon the surface of said wedge such that and wherein said means to electrically read a signal out of said wedge is electrically connected to said image responsive electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermal imaging transducer system of claim 4 wherein both said responsive and reference electrodes are mounted to the same surface of said wedge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal imaging transducer system of claim 5 wherein said ferroelectric material is a material having discrete voltage level response to infrared radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The thermal imaging transducer systems of claim 6 wherein said ferroelectric material is Bismuth Titanate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3846820A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-10 | 1982-01-09 | 1982-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-01-09 | 1986-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-10 | 1990-01-09 | 1990-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |