Appeal 2007-1983
Application 09/800,366
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant invented a technique for fast scanning an array of
bolometers,1 in particular microbolometers, used in infrared imaging
systems. Specifically, at least two bias pulses are applied sequentially to
each microbolometer in the array during a frame time (i.e., the time it takes
for the array to produce a complete image of an object being viewed by the
array). Then, the resulting signals associated with the applied pulses are
measured and an average value computed. By applying multiple pulses
during the frame time, a more uniform temperature results.2 Claim 1 is
illustrative:
1. A method for improving performance sensitivity and facility of
operation of an array including one or more microbolometers, comprising:
applying two or more bias pulses substantially sequentially during a
frame time to each microbolometer in the array;
measuring two or more resulting signals corresponding to the two or
more bias pulses;
computing an average signal value from the two or more resulting
signals corresponding to each microbolometer in the array during the frame
time; and
producing an output signal based on the computed average signal
value for each microbolometer in the array during the frame time.
1 A bolometer is a thermal radiation detector that operates by (1) absorbing
incident electromagnetic radiation (typically infrared radiation); (2)
converting the absorbed radiation into heat; and (3) indicating the resulting
temperature change in the detector by a change in its electrical resistance
(which is a function of temperature) (Specification 1:17-20).
2 See generally Specification P, 3, l. 27 – P, 4, l. 7; Abstract; Fig. 5.
2
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