Uncooled Infrared Focal Plane Arrays

摘要

Uncooled infrared focal plane arrays have been developed which employ four detection mechanisms: resistive bolometric, pyroelectric, ferroelectric bolometric and thermoelectric. They find application in thermal imaging systems for night vision. Each of the four mechanisms is described. Figures of merit are defined. The fundamental limits to the performance of thermal detectors are presented. The state-of-the-art of the four types of thermal detectors is described and the role of uncooled focal plane arrays in thermal imaging systems is discussed.