CCD camera having an anti-stokes phosphor bound thereto

• US 7,075,576 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applied Scintillation Technologies Ltd. (Levy Hill Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Scintillation Technologies Ltd. (Levy Hill Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: De Mattos, John, Tyrrell, Glenn, Creasey, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISLEH, JUSTIN P
• Application Number:
  US09/851,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 250/581, 250/330, 250/332, 250/483.1, 250/484.2, 250/484.3, 250/484.4, 250/475.1, 250/582, 250/583, 348/164, 348/294, 348/311, 438/57, 438/60, 438/73, 438/75
• US Class Current: 348/311
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1462 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A camera includes a charge-coupled device (CCD). The CCD has an anti-stokes phosphor bound to the light receiving surface of the CCD. The anti-stokes phosphor emits electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the range of 950 nm to 1100 nm. A housing surrounds the CCD and defines a filtered aperture through which, in use, light can pass and be received by the phosphor CCD.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a charge-coupled device (CCD), the CCD having an anti-stokes phosphor bound to the light receiving surface thereof, wherein the phosphor emits in the range of 950 nm to 1075 nm; and

a housing surrounding the CCD and defining an aperture through which, in use, light can pass and be received by the phosphor.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein the anti-stokes phosphor is sensitive to light in the wavelength range of 1500 nm to 1610 nm.

3. A camera according to claim 1, comprising at least one filter positioned between the aperture and the phosphor on the CCD.

4. A camera according to claim 1, wherein the phosphor comprises ErYb in a host phosphor matrix.

5. A camera according to claim 4, wherein the host phosphor matrix comprises one of Y₂O₂S, YF₃, NaYF₄ and La₂O₂S.

6. A camera according to claim 1, wherein the phosphor is bound to the CCD by an adhesive.

7. A camera comprising:

a charge-coupled device (CCD), the CCD having an anti-stokes phosphor directly bound to the light receiving surface thereof, wherein the phosphor emits in the range of 950 nm to 1075 nm; and

a housing surrounding the CCD and defining an aperture through which, in use, light can pass and be received by the phosphor.