Infrared detection system and method with distributed signal amplification and sampling
First Claim
1. An infrared detection system, comprising:
- an array of pyroelectric infrared detectors, respective signal processing cells associated with and located proximate to said detectors, each cell including;
means for receiving an electric signal from its associated detector indicating the detection of infrared radiation,means for amplifying said received signal, andsample and hold means for sampling said amplified signal and holding the sampled signal,readout means for reading out the signals held by said signal processing cells as an indication of the infrared radiation received by their respective detectors, andmeans for periodically initiating a simultaneous updating of the signals held by each of said cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Individual processing cells are provided in close proximity to each detector element in an infrared detector array. Signals generated by the detectors in response to incident infrared radiation are converted to amplified voltages by their respective processing cells, with all of the cells sampling and holding their respective amplified signals simultaneously. The signals held by the various cells are then read out serially during the next cycle of alternating exposures and shadings by a rotating chopper. The amplified signals of all the cells are simultaneously reset at the beginning of each chopper cycle. The simultaneous sampling and holding allows all of the held pixel signals to represent equal periods of exposure or shading, while the local voltage conversion and signal amplification at each processing cell substantially improves the final signal-to-noise ratio.
18 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An infrared detection system, comprising:
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an array of pyroelectric infrared detectors, respective signal processing cells associated with and located proximate to said detectors, each cell including; means for receiving an electric signal from its associated detector indicating the detection of infrared radiation, means for amplifying said received signal, and sample and hold means for sampling said amplified signal and holding the sampled signal, readout means for reading out the signals held by said signal processing cells as an indication of the infrared radiation received by their respective detectors, and means for periodically initiating a simultaneous updating of the signals held by each of said cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An infrared detection system comprising:
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an array of pyroelectric infrared detectors, respective signal processing cells associated with and located proximate to said detectors, each cell including; means for receiving an electric signal from its associated detector indicating the detection of infrared radiation, means for amplifying said received signal, and sample and hold means for sampling said amplified signal and holding the sampled signal, readout means for reading out the signals held by said signal processing cells as an indication of the infrared radiation received by their respective detectors, means for periodically and simultaneously resetting the amplified signals of each of said cells to a reference value. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method of detecting a pattern of infrared radiation, comprising:
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generating a pixel array of electrical signals corresponding to said infrared radiation pattern, individually amplifying each of said electrical signals to an amplified voltage level, individually sampling and holding said amplified voltage signals, serially reading out said sampled and held amplified voltage signals, periodically and simultaneously resetting said amplified voltage signals to a reference value, and repeating said sampling and holding and said serial read out for each successive resetting. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification