Chemical Imaging Cameras - The First Steps

摘要

The use of focal plane array detectors to sense infrared radiation and generate thermal pictures is a technology that has developed and matured over the past 15 years. These focal plane arrays detectors are basically of two types, uncooled and cooled. Table 1 shows a selection of detectors materials used for array detectors. These materials have various parameters that make them appropriate for some applications and not others. The uncooled technologies are currently receiving the bulk of the development funding. These materials have the potential to be inexpensive to manufacture and very rugged. Unfortunately, either the wavelength response is inadequate to determine chemical spectral signatures or the optical requirements are too stringent for a spectrophotometer application currently. These uncooled FPAs are being used in commercial applications so they have the potential to see significant price reductions. The most consumer-oriented application is the currently incorporated into the 2001 model year Cadillac.