Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy

Andrey Timofeev

Juha Hassel

Mika Prunnila

Arttu Luukanen

Panu Helistö

Visa Vesterinen

Jouni Ahopelto

Leif Grönberg

Kestutis Grigoras

Hannu Sipola

Andrey Shchepetov

Panu HelistÖ

Leif GRÖNBERG

A solution for reading detector arrays is disclosed. The solution comprises generating () an excitation signal, varying () the frequency of the excitation signal in time, supplying () the excitation signal to a detector array comprising a set of thermal detectors. The number of detectors corresponds to the frequencies of the excitation signal. In the solution, the signal is demodulated () at the output of the detector array and time-multiplexed base band signal is obtained. An analogue to digital conversion is performed () to the time-multiplexed base band signal and the base band signal is demultiplexed () to obtain a set of detector signals.

Method and apparatus for reading detector arrays

A thermoelectric device () comprising a frame (), a membrane () made of thermoelectric material, and an element () for absorbing or releasing energy. The element () is supported to the frame () solely by the membrane ().

Thermoelectric device

A superconducting thermal detector (bolometer) of THz (sub-millimeter) wave radiation based on sensing the change in the amplitude or phase of a resonator circuit, consisting of a capacitor (Csh) and a superconducting temperature dependent inductor where the said inductor is thermally isolated from the heat bath (chip substrate) by micro-suspensions. The bolometer design includes a thin film inductor located on the membrane, a single or/and multi-layered thin film capacitor, and a thin film absorber of incoming radiation. The bolometer design can also include a lithographic antenna with antenna termination and/or a back reflector beneath the membrane for optimal wavelength detection by the resonance circuit. The superconducting thermal detector (bolometer) and arrays of these detectors operate in a temperature range from 1 Kelvin to 10 Kelvin.

Superconducting thermal detector (bolometer) of terahertz (sub-millimeter wave) radiation

Growing community of inventors

Espoo, Finland

Andrey Timofeev