Raytheon Company

Santa Barbara Research Center

Todd E Sessler

Adam M Kennedy

Matthew T Kuiken

Matthew Jonas

John Steven Anderson

Robert K Dodds

John F McGee, Iii

Robert M Stokes

Kevin L Pettijohn

John A Stineman

David VanLue

William M Bowser

Dmitry Shmoys

Jim Andrew

Alan R Levy

An apparatus for multi-spectral imaging includes a microbolometer array comprising a two-dimensional array of microbolometer detectors that are configured to respond to energy having a first range of wavelengths comprising a first plurality of spectral bands. The apparatus also includes a wideband window configured to allow energy having a second range of wavelengths to reach the microbolometer array. The second range of wavelengths comprises a second plurality of spectral bands. The apparatus additionally includes optics configured to focus the energy from a scene towards the microbolometer array. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to generate an output based on a response of the microbolometer array to energy having a third range of wavelengths comprising a third plurality of spectral bands. There is substantial overlap between the first, second, and third range of wavelengths and the first, second, and third plurality of spectral bands.

Apparatus and method for multi-spectral imaging

A method includes determining a signal current based on an average current associated with one or more detectors. The method also includes determining a strip voltage based on the signal current. The method further includes biasing a strip resistance with the strip voltage. The biasing of the strip resistance creates a strip current. The method additionally includes biasing a detector array with a detector voltage. The biasing of the detector array creates a detector current. The method also includes determining levels of incident radiation from a scene based on the strip current and the detector current.

System and method for athermal operation of a focal plane array

A radiation detectorhas a baseand a windowthat define a vacuum chamber. Within the vacuum chamberis a temperature controlled filterand a focal plane array (FPA)defining a gap h therebetween. The filteris heat sunk to a readout integrated circuit (ROIC)and thermoelectric elementsto inhibit heat transfer from non-scene sourcesto the FPA. The temperature controlled filtermay also incorporate a bandpass filter to reflect all sources of radiation not within the desired wavelength region of interest. The temperature controlled filteris maintained at substantially the same temperature as the FPA

Thermally stabilized radiation detector utilizing temperature controlled radiation filter

Method and apparatus for performing a TDI function with a plurality of electrical signals. A first step of the method stores, during individual ones of a first plurality of consecutive time intervals, a sample of a first electrical signal. A second step of the method equilibrates, during individual ones of a second, subsequent plurality of time intervals, one of the stored samples with a stored sample of a second electrical signal. Subsequent to each of the steps of equilibrating, an electrical signal is outputted that has a magnitude expressive of the equilibrated stored samples. The equilibration is achieved by shorting storage capacitors (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3) together to effectively sum coherent signals and incoherent noise. The charge sum is stored on a capacitance that is effectively doubled from either detector channel operating individually. The output signal remains in the same range as would be an individual detector channel output voltage, without TDI, and no reduction in dynamic range is incurred.

Hold capacitor time delay and integration with equilibrating means

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Goleta, CA, United States of America

Todd E Sessler