US5559332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal detector and method
Assignee: L3 Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1994-11-04
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2014-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A thermal imaging system (10) for providing an image representative of an amount of thermal radiation incident to the system is provided. The system (10) includes a thermal detector (28 or 30) made from a layer of temperature sensitive material forming a first element of a signal-producing circuit (54). The first element (28 or 30) has either a resistance or capacitance value depending on its temperature. The system (10) also includes an integrated circuit substrate (32) having a second element (56, 58, 62, or 64) of the signal-producing circuit (54) complementary and electrically coupled to the first element (28 or 30). The signal-producing circuit (54) may produce an output signal having a frequency. The frequency of the output signal is monitored as representing an absolute temperature of the detector (28 or 30) so as to determine the amount of thermal energy incident to the system (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Edward G. Meissner
- 👤 Howard R. Beratan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:10
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N19/00; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/20; H04N23/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for producing an image representative of an amount of thermal radiation incident to a thermal imaging system, the method comprising the steps of: forming a layer of temperature sensitive material as a thermal detector and first element of a signal-producing circuit, said first element having one of a resistance and capacitance value depending on its temperature; forming a second element of the signal-producing circuit complementary and electrically coupled to the first element in an integrated circuit substrate: providing an output signal having a frequency from the signal-producing circuit, the frequency of the output signal depending on the value of the first element and representing a temperature of the detector; and monitoring said frequency of said output signal of the signal-producing circuit so as to detect a change in said temperature of said thermal detector, wherein said first and second elements further comprise a resistor-capacitor (RC) network of an oscillator circuit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for producing an image representative of an amount of thermal radiation incident to a thermal imaging system, the method comprising the steps of: forming a layer of temperature sensitive material as a thermal detector and first element of a signal-producing circuit, said first element having one of a resistance and capacitance value depending on its temperature; forming a second element of the signal-producing circuit complementary and electrically coupled to the first element in an integrated circuit substrate: providing an output signal having a frequency from the signal-producing circuit, the frequency of the output signal depending on the value of the first element and representing a temperature of the detector; and monitoring said frequency of said output signal of the signal-producing circuit so as to detect a change in said temperature of said thermal detector, wherein said first and second elements further comprise a resistor-capacitor (RC) network of an oscillator circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element is capacitive and the second element is resistive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element is resistive and the second element is capacitive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the oscillator circuit further comprises a Wien bridge oscillator circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming a support structure for providing thermal and electrical isolation between the thermal detector and the substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the layer of temperature sensitive material further comprises barium strontium titanate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive material further comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the layer of temperature sensitive material comprises ferroelectric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the layer of temperature sensitive material comprises one of barium strontium titanate, barium titanate, antimony sulfoiodide, vanadium oxide, lead titanate, and lead lanthanum zirconium titanate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming an infrared absorber assembly extending outwardly from the thermal detector for interacting with infrared energy incident thereto and for producing a temperature change in the thermal detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring step further comprises detecting a change in the frequency of the output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A thermal imaging system for providing an image representative of an amount of thermal radiation incident to the system, said system comprising: a focal plane array comprising a plurality of thermal detectors, each detector comprising a layer of temperature sensitive material forming a first element of a signal-producing circuit, said first element having one of a resistance and capacitance value depending on its temperature; an integrated circuit substrate comprising a plurality of second elements, each of said second elements part of one of a plurality of signal-producing circuits and complementary and electrically coupled to an associated first element, each signal-producing circuit operable to produce an output signal at a frequency; and wherein the frequency of each output signal is monitorable as representing an absolute temperature of the detector so as to determine the amount of thermal energy incident to the detector, wherein each associated first and second element further comprise a resistor-capacitor (RC) network of an oscillator circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
A thermal imaging system for providing an image representative of an amount of thermal radiation incident to the system, said system comprising: a focal plane array comprising a plurality of thermal detectors, each detector comprising a layer of temperature sensitive material forming a first element of a signal-producing circuit, said first element having one of a resistance and capacitance value depending on its temperature; an integrated circuit substrate comprising a plurality of second elements, each of said second elements part of one of a plurality of signal-producing circuits and complementary and electrically coupled to an associated first element, each signal-producing circuit operable to produce an output signal at a frequency; and wherein the frequency of each output signal is monitorable as representing an absolute temperature of the detector so as to determine the amount of thermal energy incident to the detector, wherein each associated first and second element further comprise a resistor-capacitor (RC) network of an oscillator circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising a support structure providing thermal and electrical isolation between the plurality of thermal detectors and the substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the layer of temperature sensitive material comprises one of barium strontium titanate, barium titanate, antimony sulfoiodide, vanadium oxide, lead titanate, and lead lanthanum zirconium titanate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising an infrared absorber assembly extending outwardly from the thermal detectors for interacting with infrared energy incident thereto and for producing a temperature change in the thermal detectors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
A thermal imaging system for providing an image representative of thermal radiation incident to the system, said system comprising: an array of thermal detectors, each detector comprising a layer of temperature sensitive material forming a first element of a signal-producing circuit, said first element having at least one of a resistance and capacitance value that depends on its temperature; an array of said signal-producing circuits, each circuit comprising a second element complementary and electrically coupled to an associated first element, said signal-producing circuit operable to produce an output signal at a frequency; and wherein the frequency of the output signal is monitored as representing an absolute temperature of the detector so as to determine the amount of thermal energy incident to the system, wherein said first and second elements further comprise a resistor-capacitor (RC) network of an oscillator circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
A thermal imaging system for providing an image representative of thermal radiation incident to the system, said system comprising: an array of thermal detectors, each detector comprising a layer of temperature sensitive material forming a first element of a signal-producing circuit, said first element having at least one of a resistance and capacitance value that depends on its temperature; an array of said signal-producing circuits, each circuit comprising a second element complementary and electrically coupled to an associated first element, said signal-producing circuit operable to produce an output signal at a frequency; and wherein the frequency of the output signal is monitored as representing an absolute temperature of the detector so as to determine the amount of thermal energy incident to the system, wherein said first and second elements further comprise a resistor-capacitor (RC) network of an oscillator circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the first element is capacitive and the second element is resistive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the first element is resistive and the second element is capacitive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the signal-producing circuit further comprises a Wien bridge oscillator circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising a support structure providing thermal and electrical isolation between the thermal detector and the substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 wherein first and second electrical contacts couple to a top and bottom surface of the layer of temperature sensitive material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second electrical contacts couple to a first and second side surface of the layer of the temperature sensitive material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the layer of temperature sensitive material further comprises barium strontium titanate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the temperature sensitive material further comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistive material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the temperature sensitive material further comprises ferroelectric material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the layer of temperature sensitive material comprises one of barium strontium titanate, barium titanate, antimony sulfoiodide, vanadium oxide, lead titanate, and lead lanthanum zirconium titanate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising an infrared absorber assembly extending outwardly from the thermal detector for interacting with infrared energy incident thereto and for producing a temperature change in the thermal detector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |