RE.sub.x M.sub.1-x Mn.sub.y O.sub..delta. films for microbolometer-based IR focal plane arrays
First Claim
1. An improved microbolometer comprising:
- a thin film composition of matter, the thin film comprising;
a manganite of the formula
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">RE.sub.x M.sub.1-x Mn.sub.y O.sub.δ
whereinRE is selected from the group consisting of Y and the rare earths, and combinations thereof,M is selected from the group consisting of divalent metals, and combinations thereof,x is less than 1,v is from about 0.75 to about 1.5, andδ
is from about 2.5 to about 4.0; and
a microbridge for measuring resistance changes due to temperature changes in the thin film, comprising a substrate having a cavity disposed thereon;
wherein the thin film is deposited on the microbridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microbolometers can be made with a thin film composition of matter having a large temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) as compared to the same material in the bulk form. The composition is a manganite of the formula
RE.sub.x M.sub.1-x Mn.sub.y O.sub.δ
where
RE is Y and the rare earths such as La, Ce, Pr, Nb, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and combinations thereof,
M is a divalent metal such as Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb, and combinations thereof,
x is less than l,
y is from about 0.75 to about 1.5, and
δ is from about 2.5 to about 4.0.
The microbolometer is made by applying a thin film of the composition on to a substrate such as SiNx and annealing the deposited film to remove inhomogeneities and to decrease the defects so as to increase the TCR.
17 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An improved microbolometer comprising:
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a thin film composition of matter, the thin film comprising; a manganite of the formula
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">RE.sub.x M.sub.1-x Mn.sub.y O.sub.δwherein RE is selected from the group consisting of Y and the rare earths, and combinations thereof, M is selected from the group consisting of divalent metals, and combinations thereof, x is less than 1, v is from about 0.75 to about 1.5, and δ
is from about 2.5 to about 4.0; anda microbridge for measuring resistance changes due to temperature changes in the thin film, comprising a substrate having a cavity disposed thereon; wherein the thin film is deposited on the microbridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification