Solid State Scientific Corporation

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

University of New Mexico

James E Murguia

Richard J Nelson

Jonathan M Mooney

Gary K Maki

Prabha K Tedrow

Kenneth Haas

Shi Quan

A multi-image detector assembly for detecting a plurality of correlated images of a single scene over a plurality of disparate electromagnetic wavelength sets includes an imaging-sensor array, a plurality of focusing elements and a plurality of optical filtering elements. The imaging-sensor array has a plurality of detector-array sections, each of which detector-array sections comprises at least two detector-array subsections dedicated to the detection of a common wavelength set associated with that detector-array section. Each focusing element is aligned for focusing upon a corresponding one of the plurality of detector-array sub-sections an image of the scene correlating to the images of the scene focused upon other detector-array sub-sections by the other focusing elements. Additionally, each focusing element and its corresponding detector-array sub-section defines an optical path and each detector-array section has associated with it at least two such optical paths. At least two detector-array subsections belonging to each common detector-array section are configured to register images that are commonly filtered by a single optical filtering element.

Simultaneous spectral imaging system including commonly filtered optical paths defined by focusing elements exhibiting disparate f-numbers

A detector assembly for imaging a scene over a predetermined temperature range and a predetermined wavelength range including a central wavelength includes an imaging-sensor array, a plurality of focusing elements and a plurality of optical filtering elements. The imaging-sensor array includes a plurality of detector-array sections and the focusing elements are arranged with respect to the detector array such that each focusing element is capable of focusing upon a corresponding one of the detector-array sections an image of the scene correlating to the image of the scene that each of the other focusing elements is capable of focusing upon the detector-array section corresponding thereto. Each focusing element and the detector-array section corresponding thereto defines an associated optical path. Disposed within each optical path is an optical filtering element such that electromagnetic energy that passes through that filtering element impinges upon the detector-array section optically correlated with that filtering element. Each filtering element is configured to transmit, at a filter-specific maximum intensity, the central wavelength at a temperature disparate from the temperature at which each of the other filtering elements is configured to transmit the central wavelength. The transmittance as a function of temperature for each filtering element at least partially overlaps the transmittance as a function of temperature of at least one other filtering element among the plurality of filtering elements, thereby extending the operative temperature range of the detector assembly.

Multi-filter spectral detection system for detecting the presence within a scene of a predefined central wavelength over an extended operative temperature range

A system and method for determining whether the distance between an electromagnetic-energy emitting source and a predetermined location increased, decreased or remained constant between first and second times relies upon the selection of first and second energy bands whose average wavelengths are disparately absorbed as a function of transmission distance. Energy values corresponding to the intensity of detectable energy within each of the first and second sub-ranges at each of the first and second times are assigned. First and second ratios comparatively indicative of the intensity of energy detected, as represented by the assigned relative-energy values, within the first and second sub-ranges at each of the first and second times are computed and, based on a ratio-comparative analysis of the first and second ratios, a determination as to a direction of change in transmission distance is rendered by reference to modeled data associating, directly or indirectly, expected ratio-comparative relationships with an increase, decrease and lack of change in distance.

System and method for passively ascertaining a relative direction of change in distance between an electromagnetic-energy emitter and a spectral sensor

A Single Event Upset (SEU) resistant latch circuit that uses the Single Event Resistant Topology (SERT) comprises a first circuit module electrically coupled to a second circuit module. In the SERT-1 embodiment, the first circuit module has two output terminals, including four cross-coupled p-channel (PMOS) transistors coupled with two n-channel (NMOS) transistors. The second circuit module has two output terminals, including four cross-coupled p-channel (PMOS) transistors coupled with two n-channel (NMOS) transistors. These four output terminals satisfy a set of state equations that can be used to obtain the SERT-1 State Table. In the SERT-2 embodiment, the first circuit module has two output terminals, including four cross-coupled n-channel (NMOS) transistors coupled with two p-channel (PMOS) transistors. The second circuit module has two output terminals, including four cross-coupled n-channel (NMOS) transistors coupled with two p-channel (PMOS) transistors. These four output terminals satisfy a set of state equations that can be used to obtain the SERT-2 State Table.

Conflict free radiation tolerant storage cell

A new kind of thermal detector and thermal imager for infrared radiation. A thermal detector/imager is a device for detecting/imaging in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. This produces a video image, where the video brightness is a function of the incident power. The new thermal imager consists of a thermionic thermal detector having: a substrate having a thermal insulating gap; and a reverse biased CoSi.sub.2 diode suspended over the thermal insulating gap of the substrate and which senses temperature of thermionic emission by producing an output signal with a current that changes exponentially with temperature changes. The substrate is a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer which has said thermal insulating gap on its top surface; an oxide insulator layer that covers the top surface of the thick silicon support layer, including the thermal insulating gap; and support legs placed on the top surface of the oxide insulator layer. The support legs support the reverse biased CoSi.sub.2 diode in place.

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Hollis, NH, United States of America

James E Murguia