Patent ID: 6121613
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A forward looking infrared device comprising:a. a black body;b. scanning means for scanning the black body and a scene emanating infrared energy;c. optics for focusing the infrared energy;d. detector array for receiving the focused infrared energy and producing electrical signals representative of the intensity of the infrared energy impinging thereon said detector array includes a plurality of photoconductors;e. a signal conditioning integrated circuit consisting of a plurality of channels with each channel connected to a predetermined photoconductor and including a multiplexer for multiplexing the output of the plurality of channels;f. ancillary electronic means operatively connected to the signal conditioning integrated circuit, said signal conditioning integrated circuit and ancillary electronics means operative to produce working level signals representative of scene scanned; andg. a cooling means including a chip mounting area and a metallized output, said detector array and signal conditioning integrated circuit operatively affixed to the chip mounting area of the cooling means with the multiplexer output connected to the metallized output, whereby the detector is cooled to its operating temperature and the signal conditioning integrated circuit multiplexes the output signals of the detector array to the metallized output of said cooling means to reduce substantially the number of metallized outputs for the cooling means.