Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – Superconducting type
Patent
1988-07-26
1989-08-01
Fields, Carolyn E.
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
Superconducting type
2503384, 250349, 25037015, H01L 2718, H01L 3900
Patent
active
048535389
ABSTRACT:
Infrared, mm-wave or other radiation (100) is detected with at least one detector element in the form of a temperature-sensitive resistor (1) having a high positive temperature coefficient, e.g. 100 micro-ohm.multidot.cm.multidot.K.sup.-1. A sufficiently high voltage V is applied across the resistor (1) by means of a circuit (Vb,T1) so that, in accordance with the invention, the resistor (1) passes a sufficient current (I) as to raise its temperature by Joule heating to a position at which a further increase in its temperature in response to incident radiation (100) reduces the Joule heating by reducing the current (I), thereby stabilizing the temperature of the resistor (1). This varying current (I) through the resistor (1) is measured (e.g. as a voltage V' by means of a transconductance amplifier A) to provide a signal indicative of the power of the incident radiation (100). The change in the Joule heating produced by a change in the temperature of the resistor (1) at this position is larger (e.g. more than 10 times larger) than a change in power of the incident radiation (100) required to produce that same change in temperature of the resistor (1) in the absence of any change in Joule heating. As a result of this internal stabilization of its temperature due to the changes in Joule heating, the detector element (1) has a short time constant for response, and thermal cross-talk problems do not arise for an array of the detector elements (1) sharing a common body of the resistance material. The resistance material may be, e.g., a semiconducting barium titanate operated around or above ambient temperature, or an oxygen-deficient mixed oxide of barium, copper and yttrium which is superconducting when cooled below its high positive temperature coefficient. The resistor(s) may be mounted on a semiconductor circuit, possibly on a cryogenic cooler.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2189122 (1940-02-01), Andrews
patent: 2932743 (1960-04-01), Atwood
Botjer William L.
Fields Carolyn E.
U.S. Philips Corp.
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