Infra-red sensing system
First Claim
1. An infrared sensing system having a cooled detector assembly comprising an insulating casing holding a detector chamber with an array of cooled detectors in thermal contact with a cryogenic refrigerator, processor means for processing electric signals generated in the detectors by received and focused infrared radiation, conductor means for conducting said electric signals to said processor means and an infrared radiation focusing system having its focal area outside the casing, which focal area is optically linked to said array of cooled detectors by a bundle of optical fibres having receiving and emitting ends and capable of conducting infrared radiation, the receiving ends of all fibres being located in said focal area and the emitting end of each fibre being directly linked to only one single, associated detector of the array and comprising said insulating casing being stuffed with thermally insulating material and not being evacuated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An IR sensing system wherein the focal area is located outside the casing at holds a detector array and a bundle of optical fibres leads from the focal area to the detector array in the array such that the inner, emitting end of each fibre of the bundle is in proximate relationship with only one single detector.
17 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. An infrared sensing system having a cooled detector assembly comprising an insulating casing holding a detector chamber with an array of cooled detectors in thermal contact with a cryogenic refrigerator, processor means for processing electric signals generated in the detectors by received and focused infrared radiation, conductor means for conducting said electric signals to said processor means and an infrared radiation focusing system having its focal area outside the casing, which focal area is optically linked to said array of cooled detectors by a bundle of optical fibres having receiving and emitting ends and capable of conducting infrared radiation, the receiving ends of all fibres being located in said focal area and the emitting end of each fibre being directly linked to only one single, associated detector of the array and comprising said insulating casing being stuffed with thermally insulating material and not being evacuated.
Specification