Patent ID: 7381953
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: G01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. An infrared (IR) imaging device comprising: a planar substrate having a first face and a second face; a detector layer disposed adjacent to the first face of the planar substrate to receive incident IR radiation, wherein the detector layer is a contiguous layer formed of an amorphous IR sensitive material with a resistance that varies with exposure to incident IR radiation; a plurality of electrical circuits disposed on said second face of the planar substrate, wherein each electrical circuit is electrically coupled to an associated region the detector layer with conductive vias formed through the planar substrate, and wherein each electrical circuit operates to detect an amount of incident IR radiation exposure in the associated region of the detector layer by sensing an amount of change in resistance of the IR sensitive material within the associated region and generating an analog control signal with a level proportional to the detected amount of incident IR radiation in the associated region; and a plurality of light emitters each coupled to a corresponding one of the electrical circuits, wherein each light emitter is driven by an analog control signal output from its corresponding electrical circuit and configured to emit an amount of visible light in proportion to the level of the analog control signal.