MULTI-BAND THERMAL IMAGING SENSOR WITH INTEGRATED FILTER ARRAY
First Claim
1. An infrared imaging system comprising:
- imaging optics configured to receive and focus infrared radiation from a scene towards a focal plane of the infrared imaging system;
an uncooled focal plane array sensor configured to receive the infrared radiation from the imaging optics, the uncooled focal plane array sensor including a two-dimensional array of microbolometer pixels and a corresponding two-dimensional filter array integrated and aligned with the two-dimensional array of microbolometer pixels such that each microbolometer pixel has a corresponding filter, the filter array being configured to filter the infrared radiation into at least two spectral bands or at least two polarizations; and
a processor coupled to the uncooled focal plane array sensor and configured to receive and process image data received from the uncooled focal plane array sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Infrared imaging systems and methods incorporating the use of pixelated filter arrays integrated with the imaging detector. In one example, an infrared imaging system includes imaging optics that focus infrared radiation towards a focal plane of the system, an uncooled focal plane array sensor configured to receive the infrared radiation from the imaging optics, and a processor coupled to the uncooled focal plane array sensor and configured to receive and process image data received from the uncooled focal plane array sensor. The uncooled focal plane array sensor includes a two-dimensional array of microbolometer pixels and a corresponding two-dimensional filter array integrated and aligned with the two-dimensional array of microbolometer pixels such that each microbolometer pixel has a corresponding filter. The filter array is configured to filter the infrared radiation into at least two spectral bands or at least two polarizations.
55 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An infrared imaging system comprising:
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imaging optics configured to receive and focus infrared radiation from a scene towards a focal plane of the infrared imaging system; an uncooled focal plane array sensor configured to receive the infrared radiation from the imaging optics, the uncooled focal plane array sensor including a two-dimensional array of microbolometer pixels and a corresponding two-dimensional filter array integrated and aligned with the two-dimensional array of microbolometer pixels such that each microbolometer pixel has a corresponding filter, the filter array being configured to filter the infrared radiation into at least two spectral bands or at least two polarizations; and a processor coupled to the uncooled focal plane array sensor and configured to receive and process image data received from the uncooled focal plane array sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification