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. 27, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1986
Vincent T. Bly, Springfield, VA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An infrared image is directed onto a transducer having a planar array of absorbing discs, on one side. The discs are supported by a thin membrane which sags or bulges as the discs heat up. The discs thus change their spacings with respect to a partially reflective mirror. The nominal spacing between the discs and mirror is about ¼ wave-length of the infrared radiation, such that absorption is enhanced. The mirror is supported on a transparent substrate through which visible or near-infrared radiation is shown; the mirror/discs thus establish a Fabry-Perot cavity for this radiation, whereby a visible or near-infrared image may be observed or detected as the various discs establish various spacings in accordance with incremental variations in the infrared image. An alternate embodiment uses an electrostatic field to pre-bias the discs toward the mirror and thus to tune or adjuct the sensitivity of the transducer.