Appeal No. 2006-1049
Application No. 09/667,826
31. A focal plane array as set out in claim 30, wherein said readout circuit
includes a sample and hold capacitor and wherein the detection voltage signal is
provided at a sample node coupled to the sample and hold capacitor and wherein
said means for correcting subtracts or adds a variable amount of charge from said
sample and hold capacitor to provide a corrected voltage signal at said sample
node.
32. A focal plane array as set out in claim 31, wherein said means for
correcting comprises a plurality of capacitors connected between said sample node
and a reference voltage and a corresponding plurality of switches coupled in series
with each respective capacitor and said reference voltage.
33. A focal plane array as set out in claim 32, wherein said plurality of
switches are selectively turned on or off to provide a desired amount of discrete
offset correction for each detector element.
34. An infrared focal plane array as set out in claim 33, wherein said readout
circuit further comprises means for controlling said means for correcting so as to
selectively open and close said plurality of switches in a time multiplexed manner
during readout of a plurality of separate detector elements.
35. An infrared focal plane array as set out in claim 33, wherein said
detector elements comprise microbolometer detector elements.
36. An infrared focal plane array as set out in claim 35, wherein said means
for said biasing comprises a constant current source coupled to said
microbolometer elements and said sample and hold capacitor.
37. An infrared focal plane array as set out in claim 31, wherein said means
for correcting comprises a plurality of parallel connected constant current sources
connected between said sample node and reference voltage and a plurality of
switches corresponding to said plurality of constant current sources and
respectively coupled in series therewith.
38. An infrared focal plane array as set out in claim 31, wherein said readout
circuit further comprises a differential amplifier having first and second inputs, the
first input thereof coupled to said sample node and said second input thereof
coupled to a adjustable voltage source.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007