Uncooled infrared detector
First Claim
1. A device for detecting incident radiation, comprising:
- a support structure,a dipole antenna mounted on said support structure, said antenna having a length equal to approximately one half the wavelength of said radiation, anda bandgap detector element mounted on said support structure and connected to said dipole antenna through blocking contacts, said detector element having each of the linear dimensions thereof less than the wavelength of said radiation, wherein said incident radiation is captured by said dipole antenna and transferred to said detector element which produces an output signal to indicate detection of said incident radiation.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared radiation detector device comprises a dipole antenna mounted on a substrate and connected through blocking contacts to a bandgap detector element. The dipole antenna has a length which is approximately one half the wavelength of the incident infrared radiation. The bandgap detector element has linear dimensions which are each substantially smaller than the wavelength of the detected radiation. A group of detector devices are combined to form an array which can produce a pixel signal for an image. Unlike conventional infrared radiation detectors, the disclosed detector device is capable of producing a usable output signal without the need for cooling below ambient temperature.
19 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A device for detecting incident radiation, comprising:
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a support structure, a dipole antenna mounted on said support structure, said antenna having a length equal to approximately one half the wavelength of said radiation, and a bandgap detector element mounted on said support structure and connected to said dipole antenna through blocking contacts, said detector element having each of the linear dimensions thereof less than the wavelength of said radiation, wherein said incident radiation is captured by said dipole antenna and transferred to said detector element which produces an output signal to indicate detection of said incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for detecting incident radiation, comprising:
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a support structure, a plurality of dipole antennas mounted on said support structure in a uniform array, each of said antennas having a length equal to approximately one half the wavelength of said radiation, a plurality of bandgap detector elements connected respectively to said dipole antennas, through blocking contacts, each of said bandgap detector elements having each of the linear dimensions thereof less than the wavelength of said radiation, said bandgap detector elements connected in common, wherein said incident radiation is captured by said dipole antennas of said array and transferred to said detector elements which produce an output signal to indicate detection of said incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An infrared radiation imager, comprising:
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a support structure, a plurality of detector arrays mounted on said support structure in a uniform pattern for receiving incident infrared radiation, each of said arrays for producing a pixel signal for an image which comprises said infrared radiation and is directed to said arrays, and each of said arrays comprising a plurality of dipole antennas mounted on said support structure in a uniform pattern, each of said antennas having a length equal to approximately one half the wavelength of said infrared radiation, each said array further including a plurality of bandgap detector elements having each of the linear dimensions thereof less than the wavelength of said infrared radiation and connected via blocking contacts respectively to said dipole antennas and further connected to a common node for conveying said pixel signal therethrough, wherein said incident infrared radiation is captured by said dipole antennas and transferred to said detector elements for producing a pixel signal from each of said arrays, said pixel signals comprising said image. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A device for detecting incident radiation, comprising:
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a support structure; an antenna mounted on said support structure; and a bandgap detector element mounted on said support structure and connected to said antenna through blocking contacts, said antenna comprising means for capturing said incident radiation and transferring it to said detector element, which produces an output signal indicative of detection of said incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification