公开(公告)号：US06833547B2

公开(公告)日：2004-12-21

申请号：US10171956

申请日：2002-06-14

Applicant: Roy A. Patience ,  Larry L. Cunningham ,  Ray D. Kroll ,  Lacy G. Cook

Inventor： Roy A. Patience ,  Larry L. Cunningham ,  Ray D. Kroll ,  Lacy G. Cook

IPC: H01J502

CPC classification number: G01J5/061 ,  G01J5/02 ,  G01J5/0215 ,  G01J5/08 ,  G01J5/084 ,  G01J5/0846 ,  G01J5/089 ,  G01J2005/0077

Abstract: A system and method for focusing infrared detectors operable at cryogenic temperatures. The invention includes a sensor (10) for detecting electromagnetic energy comprising a first detector (14) operable over a first temperature range and a predetermined number of auxiliary detectors (12) operable over a second temperature range, wherein the auxiliary detectors (12) are adjacent to and in the same optical plane as the first detector (14). In the illustrative embodiment, the energy is infrared or visible light, the first temperature range is a range of cryogenic temperatures, and the second temperature range is a range of ambient temperatures. The first detector (14) is a focal plane array and the auxiliary detectors (12) are uncooled detector arrays. In the preferred embodiment, the focal plane array (14) and the uncooled detectors (12) are disposed on a common substrate. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the novel sensor (10) can be used to focus an optical system at cryogenic temperatures. The inventive method includes illuminating energy onto the sensor (10) through the optical system at ambient temperatures and then adjusting the position of the sensor (10) until maximum illumination is received by the auxiliary detectors (12). This determines the location of the focal plane of the system at ambient temperatures. The location of the focal plane at cryogenic temperatures can then be calculated using the location of the focal plane at ambient and a model of the thermal characteristics of the system.

Abstract translation: 用于聚焦红外探测器的系统和方法，可在低温下工作。 本发明包括用于检测电磁能的传感器（10），其包括在第一温度范围内可操作的第一检测器（14）和在第二温度范围上可操作的预定数量的辅助检测器（12），其中辅助检测器（12） 邻近并在与第一检测器（14）相同的光学平面中。 在说明性实施例中，能量是红外线或可见光，第一温度范围是低温温度范围，第二温度范围是环境温度范围。 第一检测器（14）是焦平面阵列，辅助检测器（12）是非冷却检测器阵列。 在优选实施例中，焦平面阵列（14）和未冷却的检测器（12）设置在共同的基板上。 根据本发明的教导，新型传感器（10）可用于将光学系统聚焦在低温下。 本发明的方法包括在环境温度下通过光学系统将能量照射到传感器（10）上，然后调整传感器（10）的位置，直到辅助检测器（12）接收到最大照明。 这决定了系统在环境温度下的焦平面的位置。 然后可以使用焦平面在环境中的位置和系统的热特性的模型来计算焦平面在低温温度下的位置。