Ex Parte Cannata et al - Page 59



           Appeal No. 2006-1049                                                                     
           Application No. 09/667,826                                                               

                 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 detector elements and said sample and hold capacitor.                     
                 37. An infrared focal plane array, comprising:                                     
                 a plurality of detector elements configured in a two dimensional array; and        
                 a readout circuit electrically coupled to said plurality of detector elements      
           and structurally integrated therewith, said readout circuit comprising:                  
                       a sample and hold capacitor;                                                 
                       means for biasing the detector elements so as to provide an analog           
                 detection signal from each detector element corresponding to the infrared          
                 radiation incident thereon, wherein the analog detection signal is a voltage       
                 signal provided at a sample node coupled to the sample and hold capacitor;         
                 and                                                                                
                       means for correcting the analog detection signal from each detector          
                 element by a discrete offset correction and providing a corrected analog           
                 detection signal, wherein the discrete offset correction varies from detector      
                 element to detector element and comprises an offset correction voltage             
                 added to, or subtracted from, the voltage signal, 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,      
                 and wherein said means for correcting comprises a plurality of parallel            
                 connected constant current sources connected between said sample node and          
                 a reference voltage and a plurality of switches corresponding to said              
                 plurality of constant current sources and respectively coupled in series           
                 therewith.                                                                         







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