Abstract:
An apparatus and method for remotely detecting the presence of chemical ware nerve agents in a suspect thermal cloud. Infrared radiation emitted by a suspect thermal cloud is analyzed by means of a forward looking infrared thermal imager equipped with a spectral filter wheel having four passband filters; three of the spectral filter elements are spectrally optimized to respond to infrared radiation emissions characteristic of chemical warfare nerve agents. The variations in image contrasts of the thermograms generated by selectively filtering the infrared radiation emitted by the suspect thermal cloud are compared to determine the presence or absence of chemical warfare nerve agents in the suspect thermal cloud.
Abstract:
A totally integrated thermal imaging system having a dewar housing (12) including imaging optics, a scanning mirror (16) and a curved detector array (20). The imaging optics constitute a meniscus lens (14) and a spherical focusing mirror (18). The scanning mirror (16) scans the image, and the spherical mirror (18) focuses the scanned image onto the detector array (20). The meniscus lens (14) advantageously corrects aberrations. A detector support (26) provides access for cryogenic cooling of the detector (20), and individual cold shielding of the detector elements is made possible by the telecentricity of the optics. Processing electronics, at least a portion of which may also be disposed on the detector support (26), process the detector signals to display an image. The integrated structure advantageously eliminates any need for separate scanner, imager, detector dewar and electronics modules.
Abstract:
A totally integrated thermal imaging system having a dewar housing (12) including imaging optics, a scanning mirror (16) and a curved detector array (20). The imaging optics constitute a meniscus lens (14) and a spherical focusing mirror (18). The scanning mirror (16) scans the image, and the spherical mirror (18) focuses the scanned image onto the detector array (20). The meniscus lens (14) advantageously corrects aberrations. A detector support (26) provides access for cryogenic cooling of the detector (20), and individual cold shielding of the detector elements is made possible by the telecentricity of the optics. Processing electronics, at least a portion of which may also be disposed on the detector support (26), process the detector signals to display an image. The integrated structure advantageously eliminates any need for separate scanner, imager, detector dewar and electronics modules.
Abstract:
In an infra-red imager, bias current to an array of detectors is switched off during periods when the detectors are fruitlessly receiving energy from inside the imager housing to either side of an optical aperture thereof. This reduces the generation of heat in the detectors.
Abstract:
An image sensing device has an optical shield (170), in front of an image sensing array (110) of the device, with a multi-aperture structure. The optical shield (170) has many shield elements (177) forming a grid-like or cellular structure. With such a structure, the solid angle of the field of view is almost the same for each sensing element (120) of a sensing array (110), resulting in the reduction of 'shading' effects and an improvement in signal or noise ratio. The distance (H) between the shield (170) and the array (110) can be reduced as compared with previous devices. The sensing elements (120) are not shielded individually, so the pitch of the shield elements (177) can be larger than that of the sensing elements (120), which makes it easier and less costly to fabricate the shield.
Abstract:
Un élément (10) de conversion spectrale pour rayonnement électromagnétique comporte des antennes Térahertz (2) et des antennes infrarouges (3) qui sont réparties dans des zones de pixels (ZP). Les antennes Térahertz et les antennes infrarouges qui sont dans une même zone de pixel sont couplées thermiquement, et celles qui sont dans des zones de pixels différentes sont découplées. Un tel élément permet de saisir des images qui sont formées avec du rayonnement Térahertz, en utilisant un détecteur d'image (20) infrarouge.
Abstract:
The invention concerns an optical detection matrix (9) contained within a cryogenic chamber (3). Electrical image signals produced by the matrix (9) are converted into optical signals and transmitted out of the chamber (3) on lines 42A- 42T. The optical signals on lines 42A-42T are converted into electrical signals carried on line (56).
Abstract:
In an infra-red imager, bias current to an array of detectors is switched off during periods when the detectors are fruitlessly receiving energy from inside the imager housing to either side of an optical aperture thereof. This reduces the generation of heat in the detectors.