Patent ID: 6770882
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising;a pixel structure sensitive to incident low-level photonic radiation comprising; a planar substrate; a patterned metallic mirror disposed on the top surface of said planar substrate; a platform connected to said planar substrate by at least one tetherbeam, said tetherbeam having low thermal conductivity, wherein said platform and said planar substrate are separated by an air gap, said air gag forming a first Fabry-Perot cavity having a spacing that substantially maximizes the absorption of incident low-level radiation; and a pyro-optical film disposed on a surface of said platform, wherein said pyro-optical film has an optical transmissivity at the wavelength of an optical carrier beam that depends on the temperature of said pyro-optical film, and wherein said pyro-optical film defines a second Fabry-Perot cavity, wherein a thickness of said pyro-optical film substantially maximizes the thermal modulation index at the wavelength of said optical carrier beam.