Antenna-Coupled Rectifier Infrared Sensor Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infrared detectors require cryogenic cooling, increasing the cost, complexity, and power consumption of infrared imaging devices, while uncooled sensors lack sensitivity and narrow-bandwidth spectral responses necessary for effective surveillance and identification.
Innovation Solution
Infrared sensor elements with antennas directly coupled to rectifying circuits, eliminating the need for cooling by converting alternating current induced by infrared radiation into rectified signals, and using multiplexing circuits to combine signals from multiple sensor elements into a serial signal, enabling high sensitivity and tunability without cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional infrared detectors are used, then thermal sensitivity is achieved, but cryogenic cooling is required increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cooling apparatus from the infrared detection system by using antenna-coupled rectifier circuits that operate at room temperature, thereby achieving thermal sensitivity without the complexity of cryogenic cooling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cooling system with an electronic detection mechanism using antenna-coupled rectifier circuits that convert infrared radiation directly into electrical signals at room temperature, eliminating the need for mechanical cryogenic cooling apparatus
2Device complexity
If uncooled sensors are used, then device complexity is reduced, but sensitivity and spectral response are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the detection system by using rectifier circuits with specific diode characteristics and antenna designs that enable high-sensitivity infrared detection at room temperature, achieving both reduced complexity and maintained sensitivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures combining antenna elements with rectifier circuits featuring specific diode materials and configurations, creating a hybrid system that achieves high sensitivity without requiring cryogenic cooling
3Adaptability or versatility
If antenna-coupled infrared detectors are used, then frequency tunability is achieved, but cryogenic cooling is still required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cooling apparatus from antenna-coupled infrared detectors by redesigning the detection mechanism to use rectifier circuits that operate at room temperature, thereby preserving frequency tunability while eliminating the need for cryogenic cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal detection platform using antenna-coupled rectifier circuits that can operate across different frequencies and at room temperature, providing both frequency tunability and simplified operation without cooling requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves sensitivity comparable to cryogenically cooled detectors without the need for cooling, reducing size, weight, and power consumption, while maintaining high sensitivity across a broad range of wavelengths and frequencies, including ultra-high microwave radiation.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna element sensitive to infrared radiation is coupled to a conventional infrared photodetector
Implementation Method 2
The rectifying circuit converts alternating current induced in the antenna by incident infrared radiation into a rectified signal
Data Source
AI summary
An infrared sensor element having an antenna coupled directly into a rectifier. Infrared radiation impinging the antenna induces an alternating current. The rectifier converts the alternating current into a rectified signal. The rectified signal corresponds to a magnitude of the incident infrared radiation impinging the antenna, and can be used for detection and imaging operations. Coupling the antenna directly into the rectifier eliminates the need for a photodetector. The wavelength of sensor elements can be separately tuned. A sensor made up of a plurality of such sensor elements can operate in a time-division multiplexed mode sensing different infrared bandwidths in separate time segments. Two or more sensors each made up of a plurality of sensor elements can be co-located in a single focal plane and operated separately to detect infrared radiation in different bandwidths. A sensor element can also operate in bandwidths other than infrared.