Multi-Channel IR Imager with Integrated Cold Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IR imaging systems suffer from thermal noise due to the high thermal mass of imaging optics and thermal energy emission, which reduces signal-to-noise ratio and requires frequent focus correction and non-uniformity correction procedures, limiting their performance and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-optical-channel IR imaging system with cryogenically cooled and temperature-stabilized imaging optics, where the imaging optical assemblies are integrated within the cooling chamber, eliminating the need for focus correction and reducing thermal noise by maintaining all components at a stable temperature, thus minimizing thermal radiation and the need for non-uniformity correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional IR detectors are cooled to cryogenic temperature, then thermal noise is reduced and signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but system complexity and device size increase due to the need for cryogenic cooling mechanisms and Dewar enclosures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the imaging optics with the cold shield structure, integrating them into a single unified component that is cryogenically cooled. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling mechanisms for the optics, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the low thermal noise environment required for high signal-to-noise ratio detection
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging optics are nested within the cold shield enclosure, with the optics positioned inside the cryogenically cooled environment. This nested configuration allows the optics to benefit from the low-temperature environment without requiring independent cooling systems, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving detection reliability
2Volume of stationary object
If imaging optics are placed outside the cooling chamber, then system size is reduced, but thermal noise from the optics increases and focus correction becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging optics are merged with the cold shield structure and positioned inside the cooling chamber. This integration allows the optics to operate in the cryogenically cooled environment, eliminating thermal noise emission from warm optics while avoiding the need for focus correction procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal emissions from the optics are eliminated by extracting the optics from the warm external environment and placing them within the cold shield enclosure. This extraction removes the source of thermal noise and focus instability, allowing for compact system design without the penalties of warm optics
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical channels are integrated within the cooling chamber, then cross-talk between channels is reduced and imaging quality is improved, but system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optical channels are merged into the single cold shield structure, with each channel having its own optical path and detector positioned within the cryogenically cooled environment. This integration reduces cross-talk between channels by maintaining all components at the same low temperature, improving imaging quality without requiring separate external housings for each channel
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple optical channels are nested within the cold shield enclosure, with optics and detectors for each channel positioned inside the cryogenic environment. This nested configuration allows multiple channels to share the common cooling infrastructure, reducing overall system weight compared to having separate cooling systems for each channel while maintaining low cross-talk and high imaging quality
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
This configuration enables high-frame-rate, high-spatial-resolution, and low-cross-talk dual-color IR imaging with reduced system size, weight, and thermal noise, improving robustness to ambient temperature changes and minimizing the need for focus adjustments and non-uniformity correction procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A multi-optical-channel IR imaging system with cryogenically cooled and temperature-stabilized imaging optics
Implementation Method 2
The cold shield is typically configured for reducing the thermal noise from the detected signal by minimizing the IR radiation that arrives to the detector from regions out of the field of view
Data Source
AI summary
An infrared (IR) imaging system is presented. The system includes a cooling chamber associated with a cooler generating a certain temperature condition inside the chamber. The cooling chamber has an optical window, and includes thereinside an IR detection unit including one or more detectors thermally coupled to the cooler and at least two cold shields thermally coupled to the cooler and carrying at least two imaging optical assemblies. The at least two imaging optical assemblies are enclosed by the cold shields in between the detection unit and the optical window and thereby define at least two different optical channels for imaging light from the optical window onto the one or more detectors of the detection unit.