Solid-state infrared imager

Details Solid-state infrared imager Solid-state infrared imager

2006-08-08

2006-08-08

Gagliardi, Albert (Department: 2884)

Radiant energy

Infrared-to-visible imaging

Including detector array

C250S338400

Reexamination Certificate

active

07087900

ABSTRACT:
A solid-state infrared imager comprises a matrix array of infrared sensing pixels which are formed as an imaging area on a semiconductor substrate and each of which contains a pn-junction thermoelectric converter element to sense incident infrared radiation, row selection lines each connected to the pixels of a corresponding row, signal lines each connected to the pixels of a corresponding column, a row selection circuit which selects and drives one of the row selection lines, and a signal readout circuit which reads out signal currents output to the signal lines from the pixels corresponding to the row selection line driven by the row selection circuit. Particularly, the signal readout circuit includes a signal line potential stabilizer which stabilizes the potential of the signal line to a constant level, and a current-voltage converter which converts the signal current flowing in a signal line to a signal voltage.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4242706 (1980-12-01), McCormack et al.
patent: 5093589 (1992-03-01), Miyamoto et al.
patent: 5554849 (1996-09-01), Gates
patent: 6201248 (2001-03-01), Marion et al.
patent: 6211520 (2001-04-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 6300632 (2001-10-01), Liu et al.
patent: 6504153 (2003-01-01), Shigenaka et al.
patent: 6541298 (2003-04-01), Iida et al.
patent: 6730909 (2004-05-01), Butler
patent: 11-88770 (1999-03-01), None
patent: 2001-255206 (2001-09-01), None
N. Nakamura, et al., The Journal of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 216-223, “Development of a Highly Sensitive CMOS Active Pixel Image Sensor,” 2000.
Tomohiro Ishikawa, et al. “Low-cost 320×240 uncooled IRFPA using conventional silicon IC process,” SPIE, vol. 3698, Apr. 1999, pp. 556-564.
X. Gu, et al. “On-chip compensation of self-heating effects in microbolometer infrared detector arrays,” Sensors and Actuators A 69, 1998, pp. 92-96.
Kazuhiro Chiba, et al. “Low Noise Readout Circuit for Uncooled Infrared Focal Plan Array,” ITE Technical Report, vol. 24, No. 17, Feb. 2000, pp. 13-18.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Solid-state infrared imager does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Solid-state infrared imager, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solid-state infrared imager will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3652133