Thermal imaging system and method

Details Thermal imaging system and method Thermal imaging system and method

2006-10-10

2006-10-10

Porta, David (Department: 2884)

Radiant energy

Infrared-to-visible imaging

Including liquid crystal detector

C374S121000, C374S133000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07119334

ABSTRACT:
Systems and methods for thermal sensing and imaging using the electro-optic effect. A thermal detection system comprises a temperature sensing element that includes an electro-optic (EO) material layer having a length axis and characterized by a temperature dependent index of refraction, an electrical mechanism for inducing a chance in the index of refraction, a laser beam propagating lengthwise through EO layer for probing the refraction index change, and a light intensity meter for measuring a laser beam intensity change caused by the temperature dependent refraction index change. Thermal imaging is obtained by using a pixel array of such thermal sensing elements. The intensity reading may be done in either a cross-polarizer or a Mach Zehnder Interferometry reading configuration.

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