← Back to Patent Explorer
US4942301A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermal imaging device

Assignee: Thales Optronics Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-06-01
•
Granted: 1990-07-17
•
Expires: 2009-06-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A pyroelectric film has a pattern of interconnected electrodes formed on one major surface, and a pattern of discrete electrodes and electrically conductive contacts formed on the other major surface. Each discrete electrode is connected to a respective contact by a respective strip of electrically conductive material. Regions of the film each including a contact and part of the associated strip are formed in tongues pulled out of the plane of the film. The contacts are thus able to make electrical contact with respective input terminals of an integrated circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger Voles

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 20:14
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N15/00; H10N15/10; G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/10; G01J5/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 148 words
A thermal imaging device comprising: a layer comprising pyroelectric material; an array of discrete electrodes carried on one major surface side of the layer; an array of interconnected electrodes carried on the other major surface of the layer so as to define with the layer and discrete electrodes an array of pyroelectric detector elements; an array of electrically conductive contacts carried on said one surface of the layer, each conductive contact being connected to a respective discrete electrode by an elongate electrically conductive strip, portions of the layer each carrying at least one contact and part of the associated conductive strip being formed into tongues attached to the major portion of the layer along only part of their peripheries, the free ends of the tongues being pulled out of the plane of the layer, each contact being electrically connected to a respective input of a signal processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 148 words
A thermal imaging device comprising: a layer comprising pyroelectric material; an array of discrete electrodes carried on one major surface side of the layer; an array of interconnected electrodes carried on the other major surface of the layer so as to define with the layer and discrete electrodes an array of pyroelectric detector elements; an array of electrically conductive contacts carried on said one surface of the layer, each conductive contact being connected to a respective discrete electrode by an elongate electrically conductive strip, portions of the layer each carrying at least one contact and part of the associated conductive strip being formed into tongues attached to the major portion of the layer along only part of their peripheries, the free ends of the tongues being pulled out of the plane of the layer, each contact being electrically connected to a respective input of a signal processing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the arrays of discrete electrodes and contacts are intercalated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
A device according to claim 1 in which each tongue carries two contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
A device according to claim 1 in which further tongues are formed in the layer, the further tongues being pulled out of the plane of the layer in the opposite direction to the tongues carrying the contacts, the two sets of tongues together locating the pyroelectric detector array in a housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the tongues or further tongues are formed with an enlarged portion at the end attached to the major portion of the layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the layer is a flexible film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 6 in which the pyroelectric material is polyvinylidene fluoride or a copolymer of vinylidene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the layer is a composite layer comprising pyroelectric material carried on a flexible substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 8 in which at least part of the tongues do not carry pyroelectric material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4060729A Cited
US4214165A Cited
US4469943A Cited
US4660066A Cited
US4532424A Cited
US4754139A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-07-16 1994-01-15 1994-07-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-07-16 1998-01-15 1998-07-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-07-16 2002-01-15 2002-07-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag