Universal focal plane dewar assembly

• US 5,966,945 A
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward M. Mengel, Richard L. Kies Jr
• Original Assignee: Edward M. Mengel, Richard L. Kies Jr
• Inventors: Kies, Richard L. Jr., Mengel, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/092,507
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 62/51.1, 62/259.2, 62/331, 62/298, 250/352
• US Class Current: 62/51.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/006 Thermal coupling structure or interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats

Abstract

A universal focal plane DEWAR assembly for cryogenic cooling of an infrared detector DEWAR, which includes an infrared transmissive window attached to a hollow support cylinder under vacuum conditions, with a glass bore in the cylinder, which contains focal plane infrared structure inside of a cold shield, which is attached to a cold plate, with a cold button in contact therewith, and with a cold finger from a cryogenically cooled expander, which is spring mounted in the glass bore for removal and replacement without disturbing the focal plane structure.

Claims

1. A universal focal plane DEWAR assembly for detecting infrared waves, of three component construction, which is cryogenically cooled, the improvement which comprises

a midsection support cylinder of hollow construction,

a cold seal at the front of said cylinder,

an infrared transmissive window detachably engaged with said front seal,

a rear cold seal at the rear of said cylinder,

glass bore means mounted in said support cylinder in contact with said rear seal,

said glass bore means includes a hollow cylindrical projection,

a cold plate attached to said cylindrical projection,

a cold shield attached to said cold plate,

an infrared spectral filter detachably engaged with said cold shield,

a focal plane substrate in said cold shield, attached to said cold plate,

electrical connection means attached to said focal plane substrate,

a thermal insulator in said cylindrical projection in contact with said cold plate,

a cold button in said cylindrical projection in contact with said cold plate,

cryogenic cooling means removably mounted in said glass bore in contact with said cold button for cooling said button and said cold plate.

2. A universal focal plane DEWAR assembly as defined in claim 1 in which

said front and rear cold seals are of indium.

3. A universal focal plane DEWAR assembly as defined in claim 1 in which

said cryogenic cooling means includes an expander,

a flange on said expander,

a flange on said glass bore for engagement with said expander flange,

a cold finger extending from said expander in pressure contact with said cold button to cool said button,

spring means to mount said expander flange to said glass bore flange and urge said cold finger into contact with said cold button and

a cryogenic cooler in communication with said expander for cooling thereof.

4. A universal focal plane DEWAR assembly as defined in claim 1 in which

said support cylinder has a coating of metal on its inner surface and a coating of electromagnetic conductive material on its outer surface.

5. a universal focal plane DEWAR assembly as defined in claim 1 in which

said infrared transmissive window has a coating of electro-magnetic conductive material thereon.