SUPERPIXEL MULTI-WAVEBAND PHOTODETECTOR ARRAY FOR REMOTE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a photodetector array including one or more superpixels, each comprising a group of detector subpixels and each of the detector subpixels providing an infrared sensor signal from a target location where each of the group of detector subpixels senses in a distinct infrared wavelength band among the group; and
one or more processors for deriving an estimated surface temperature of the target location from a combination of the infrared sensor signal from each of the group of detector subpixels;
wherein the estimated surface temperature is derived by calculating a best fit for an equation form for target emissivity over wavelength from the infrared sensor signal from each of the group of detector subpixels combined.
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Abstract
A multi-waveband temperature sensor array, in which each superpixel (e.g., 2×2 pixel cell) operates at a distinct thermal infrared (IR) waveband (e.g. four wavebands) is disclosed. Using an example high spatial resolution, four-band thermal IR band photodetector array, accurate temperature measurements on the surface of an object can be made without prior knowledge of the object emissivity. The multiband photodetector may employ intersubband transition in III-V semiconductor-based quantum layered structures where each photodetector stack absorbs photons within the specified wavelength band while allowing the transmission of photons in other spectral bands, thus efficiently permitting multiband detection. This produces multiple, spectrally resolved images of a scene that are recorded simultaneously in a single snapshot of the FPA. From the multispectral images and calibration information about the system, computational algorithms are used to produce the surface temperature map of a target.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a photodetector array including one or more superpixels, each comprising a group of detector subpixels and each of the detector subpixels providing an infrared sensor signal from a target location where each of the group of detector subpixels senses in a distinct infrared wavelength band among the group; and one or more processors for deriving an estimated surface temperature of the target location from a combination of the infrared sensor signal from each of the group of detector subpixels; wherein the estimated surface temperature is derived by calculating a best fit for an equation form for target emissivity over wavelength from the infrared sensor signal from each of the group of detector subpixels combined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of remote temperature sensing, comprising:
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sensing an infrared sensor signal from a target location with one of a group of detector subpixels in a distinct infrared wavelength band among the group of detector subpixels, where one or more superpixels of a photodetector array comprises the group of detector subpixels; and deriving an estimated surface temperature of the target location from a combination of the infrared sensor signal from each of the group of detector subpixels with one or more processors by calculating a best fit for an equation form for target emissivity over wavelength from the infrared sensor signal from each of the group of detector subpixels combined. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus, comprising:
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a photodetector means for sensing a group of infrared sensor signals from a target location each in a distinct infrared wavelength band among the group; and a processors means for deriving an estimated surface temperature of the target location from a combination of the group of infrared sensor signals; wherein the estimated surface temperature is derived by calculating a best fit for an equation form for target emissivity over wavelength from the group of infrared sensor signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification