Retro-reflector warm stop for uncooled thermal imaging cameras and method of using the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An improvement in a camera for imaging light from a source comprising:
- a detector element;
an uncooled light shield interposed between said detector element and said source to block all light from reaching said detector element other than light directly transmitted from said source into said detector element without reflection from any portion of said camera, wherein said light shield has an interior surface oriented toward said detector element and an opposing exterior surface oriented toward said source; and
an array of retroreflectors disposed on said interior surface.
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Abstract
The illustrated embodiment of the invention is an improvement to an infrared camera in which an uncooled warm stop is provided which includes an array of miniature retro-reflectors on its rear surface oriented toward the detector in the camera and away from the exterior light source of interest instead of having a diffuse (i.e., Lambertian or white) or specular (i.e., mirror-like) reflector on the rear or interior surface of the warm stop.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An improvement in a camera for imaging light from a source comprising:
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a detector element;
an uncooled light shield interposed between said detector element and said source to block all light from reaching said detector element other than light directly transmitted from said source into said detector element without reflection from any portion of said camera, wherein said light shield has an interior surface oriented toward said detector element and an opposing exterior surface oriented toward said source; and
an array of retroreflectors disposed on said interior surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An improvement in a method for imaging light from a source comprising:
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providing an uncooled light shield interposed between a detector element and said source to block all light from reaching said detector element other than light directly transmitted from said source into said detector element without reflection from any portion of said light detector, wherein said light shield has an interior surface oriented toward said detector element and an opposing exterior surface oriented toward said source; and
providing said light shield with an array of retroreflectors disposed on said interior surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An improvement in a method for imaging light from a source comprising the steps of:
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collecting light from said source;
selecting collected light from said source by means of an uncooled light shield interposed between a detector element and said source to block all light from reaching said detector element other than light directly transmitted from said source into said detector element without reflection from any portion of said light detector, wherein said light shield has an interior surface oriented toward said detector element and an opposing exterior surface oriented toward said source; and
reflecting unwanted light away from said light shield by means of an array of It retroreflectors disposed on said interior surface.
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Specification