Microbolometer unit cell signal processing circuit

Details Microbolometer unit cell signal processing circuit Microbolometer unit cell signal processing circuit

1994-08-30

1996-02-06

Fields, Carolyn E.

Radiant energy

Infrared-to-visible imaging

Including detector array

2503384, 25037008, G01J 520, G01J 522

Patent

active

054897769

ABSTRACT:
A circuit (30) for processing a signal provided by a silicon microbolometer unit cell (76). In accordance with the invention, electrical energy is applied to a first terminal of the unit cell (76) to generate first and second signals at the first terminal thereof during first and second time intervals or fields, respectively. These signals are sampled and subtracted from each other by a sampling capacitor (80) to provide a third signal which is directly proportional to a difference between the first signal and the second sampled signal. In a specific embodiment, the difference signal is amplified to provide the desired output signal. The inventive circuit provides coarse DC offset non-uniformity correction and sets the overall gain of a focal plane array of silicon microbolometer unit cell detectors. This allows for use of a simplified analog signal processing circuit.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4795904 (1989-01-01), Richards
patent: 4902895 (1990-02-01), Hanson
patent: 5021663 (1991-06-01), Hornbeck
patent: 5196703 (1993-03-01), Keenan
patent: 5286976 (1994-02-01), Cole
patent: 5369280 (1994-11-01), Liddiard
Bonnsegni et al., "Low Temperature Bolometer Array", Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol. 60, No. 4, 1989, pp. 661, 663-665.

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