ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELD
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shielded detection system, comprising:
- an infrared radiation detector configured to detect infrared radiation;
a housing at least substantially surrounding the detector and including a window substantially transparent to infrared radiation; and
an optical relay structure operatively disposed between the window and the detector and configured to direct infrared radiation transmitted through the window onto the infrared radiation detector;
wherein the window includes an electrically conductive mesh configured to allow substantial passage of infrared radiation into the housing without substantially polarizing the infrared radiation and while preventing substantial passage of microwave radiation;
wherein the mesh is formed of strands each having an oblong cross-section oriented with a longer dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the window and a shorter dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially parallel to the outer surface; and
wherein the conductive mesh is connected to an electrical ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved EMI shielded detection system. The disclosed system may include features configured to increase radio wave and microwave absorbance while retaining significant transparency at visible and/or infrared wavelengths, thus increasing EMI shielding efficiency. This may be accomplished through the use of a conductive mesh having appropriately chosen dimensions and spacing, and embedded in a transparent medium. To minimize the impact of the mesh on the effective aperture of the medium, the strands of the mesh may be made relatively narrow, and to provide sufficient shielding despite the narrow strand width, the mesh may be embedded relatively deeply in the medium.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A shielded detection system, comprising:
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an infrared radiation detector configured to detect infrared radiation; a housing at least substantially surrounding the detector and including a window substantially transparent to infrared radiation; and an optical relay structure operatively disposed between the window and the detector and configured to direct infrared radiation transmitted through the window onto the infrared radiation detector; wherein the window includes an electrically conductive mesh configured to allow substantial passage of infrared radiation into the housing without substantially polarizing the infrared radiation and while preventing substantial passage of microwave radiation; wherein the mesh is formed of strands each having an oblong cross-section oriented with a longer dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the window and a shorter dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially parallel to the outer surface; and wherein the conductive mesh is connected to an electrical ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A shielded detection system, comprising:
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an infrared radiation detector configured to detect infrared radiation; a housing at least substantially surrounding the detector and including a window, the window including a monolithic support matrix transmissive to infrared radiation and an electrically conductive mesh opaque to microwave radiation and transmissive to infrared radiation without substantially polarizing the infrared radiation, the conductive mesh being disposed within the support matrix and connected to an electrical ground; and an optical relay structure operatively disposed between the window and the detector and configured to direct infrared radiation transmitted through the window onto the detector, wherein the mesh is formed of strands each having an oblong cross-section oriented with a longer dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the window and a shorter dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially parallel to the outer surface. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A shielded detection system, comprising:
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a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation; a housing at least substantially surrounding the detector and including a window configured to allow substantial passage of radiation having wavelengths less than a predetermined wavelength threshold into the housing without substantially polarizing the radiation and while preventing substantial passage of radiation having wavelengths greater than the threshold; and an optical relay structure operatively disposed between the window and the detector and configured to direct radiation transmitted through the window onto the detector; wherein the window includes an electrically conductive mesh formed of strands each having an oblong cross-section defining a longer dimension and a shorter dimension; and wherein each strand is oriented with the longer dimension of its cross-section aligned substantially perpendicular to a plane tangential to an outer surface of the window and the shorter dimension of its cross-section aligned substantially parallel to the tangential plane. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of manufacturing an EMI shielded detection system, comprising:
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applying a mask to a medium at least partially transparent to incident electromagnetic radiation; providing a pattern of channels in the medium; applying a conductive material to an outer surface of the medium in a sufficient quantity to fill in the channels and form a mesh of conductive strands embedded in the medium; removing any excess conductive material from the outer surface of the medium; disposing the medium within a detector housing configured to allow incoming radiation to reach the medium and selectively enter the housing; and disposing within the housing a detector configured to detect at least a portion of the radiation entering the housing; wherein the strands have an oblong cross-section oriented with a longer dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the medium and a shorter dimension of the cross-section aligned substantially parallel to the outer surface, wherein the detector is an infrared detector, and wherein the mesh is configured to allow substantial passage of infrared radiation without substantially polarizing the infrared radiation and while preventing substantial passage of microwave radiation. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. (canceled)
Specification