Appeal No. 2006-1049
Application No. 09/667,826
4. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said means for
selectively connecting comprises a plurality of switches, equal in number to said
plurality of parallel connected circuit elements and connected in series therewith.
5. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 1, wherein said offset
correction values are binary values separately and wherein said means for storing
comprises a digital memory.
6. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 5, wherein said digital
memory stores a separate binary offset correction value for each detector element
in the array.
7. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said plurality of
detector elements are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns and wherein said
means for correcting comprises a separate offset correction circuit for each column
and wherein said means for providing said offset correction values provides said
offset correction values in a time multiplexed manner to said means for correcting.
8. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said plurality of
parallel connected circuit elements comprise a plurality of constant current sources.
9. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said array of
detector elements and said readout circuit are formed as a single monolithic
integrated circuit chip.
10. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said plurality
of detector elements comprise microbolometer detector elements.
11. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 10, wherein means for
biasing comprises a constant current source coupled to said microbolometer
detector elements.
12. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said output
means comprises one or more output buffers.
13. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 2, wherein said focal
plane array further comprises a differential amplifier with first and second inputs
wherein the first input is electrically connected to the readout circuit so as to
receive the detection signals and wherein the second input is connected to an
adjustable reference voltage.
14. An infrared imaging system as set out in claim 3, wherein said capacitors
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