The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 08, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1996
William Andrew Bodkin, Needham, MA (US);
Microcam Corporation, Waltham, MA (US);
Abstract
A miniaturized IR camera mounts within a vehicle such as an airborne reconnaissance airplane. The camera includes a two dimensional uncooled FPA, a compound lens for imaging IR radiation onto the FPA, means for adjusting the distance between the lens and the FPA to adjust focus, an electronic module that controls camera read out, calibration, and signal processing, and means for flexibly coupling the FPA to the module. In accord with the invention, the module and the FPA are reconfigurable within the vehicle so that the FPA head can be fit into a tight place, or into a location that is separate from the rest of the camera, such as on top of a vehicle. The invention further provides for calibration techniques whereby the scene, sky or shutter are used to thermally calibrate the several uncooled detectors. Focus, tilt and tip adjustments permit simple adjustment of the FPA to achieve proper focus and alignment. The electronics module can be controlled through manual interface, remote signals, or internal clocking. Heat sinks dissipate heat from the FPA as well as from a TE Cooler, if present.