Infrared imager employing a 160x120 pixel uncooled bolometer array

摘要

We have developed an uncooled thermal imager having 160 $MUL 120, 50 micrometer $MUL 50 micrometer pixels which operates at 30 Hz frame rate. It employs a complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) redout integrated circuit (ROIC) beneath a vanadium oxide (VOx) silicon microstructure bolometric array. Imagery output is in RS-170 format. An RS-232 port can be employed to command operation from a remote location. Weight of the 'engine,' consisting of the focal plane array in is package plus three circuit boards, each 3 $MUL 3 inches, is 8 oz. Input power is 2.5 Watts. Also included on the boards is a circuit which avoids the need for a temperature stabilizer in the array package. Operating in the 8 - 14 micrometer spectral interval, the imager has a noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) with an f/0.8 lens against 295 K targets of less than or equal to 0.1C. The dynamic range of 66 dB will accommodate very hot targets without saturation of an image which also contains 290 K targets.