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.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2006

Filed:

Feb. 25, 2004
Applicants:

Glenn D. Boreman, Geneva, FL (US);

Francisco J. Gonzalez, Orlando, FL (US);

James L. Porter, Tucson, AZ (US);

Inventors:

Glenn D. Boreman, Geneva, FL (US);

Francisco J. Gonzalez, Orlando, FL (US);

James L. Porter, Tucson, AZ (US);

Assignees:
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J 5/20 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

Adjacent pixels of an infrared focal plane array (IR FPA) can be configured to have different spectral or polarization responses by adjustment of the lengths or orientations of the antenna arms which couple radiation into the sensors. The manufacturing costs of such an antenna-coupled IR FPA would be much less than integration of spectral or polarization filters onto each pixel, or fabrication of adjacent pixels with materials of different bandgaps. The antenna-coupled pixels can be made smaller than usual pixels, allowing this diversity of spectral or polarization information on the FPA without losing spatial resolution. The infrared (IR) sensors can be tunnel diodes, schottky diodes, photovoltaics, photoconductors, bolometers, and pyroelectrics. Application areas can include military and civilian remote sensing, automotive driving aids, industrial sensing, medical imaging, and general surveillance.


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