Infrared camera based on optical-readout bi-material FPA

Performance Limit of Infra-Red Thermomechanical Imager with Optical Readout

“…Formulae ( 19) and (20) can explain the existing discrepancy between NETD measured in real ORI and simplistic estimations which, as one can see now, proves too rough. Besides, those formulae indicate strong NETD dependence on N, which has not been considered yet [1,2,6,9]. And alongside with that they clearly show that ORI NETD can be reduced by using more powerful readout light source and by optimizing the readout system to increase phase detection efficiency .…”

“…We do not take into account thermal charge fluctuations and 1/f noise in CCD elements as they are effectively reduced by double correlating sampling [11]. We also omit mechanical vibration-deformation noise -it results in fluctuations of phase-modulated pattern, but their impact can be minimized by proper choice of phase pattern detection technique, robust to optical path variations [1][2][3][4][5][6]8].…”

“…It is expedient to choose the measuring bandwidth dependent on image format to reduce the thermal noise, that is B=N•Δf . Then the load resistance is to be chosen from the requirement: (6) and for I R we find:…”

“…Micromechanical uncooled infra-red (IR) image sensors for long wave infrared radiation (8-14μm) with optical readout have been intensively studied lately [1][2][3][4][5][6]. They are developed as an alternative to industrially produced, but yet rather expensive micro-bolometer IR detectors [7].…”