Patent ID: 7385199
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: G01J,G01L

Abstract:
1. A vacuum-packaged microbolometer IR focal plane array (FPA), comprising: a vacuum package; a substrate; an array of bolometer pixels on said substrate, said pixels having material properties that change resistance in response to a change in the temperature of the material, said pixels adapted to readout a change in resistance as a measure of IR radiation incident on said array, the sensitivity of said pixels being dependent upon maintaining a good vacuum level in the package; and at least one vacuum sensor on said substrate, said vacuum sensor having material properties that change resistance in response to a change in the temperature of the material, said vacuum sensor configured to receive an electrical signal that heats the material to a temperature that is a function of vacuum level and to readout a variable resistance of said sensor that is a measure of the vacuum level; wherein the bolometer pixels and said at least one said vacuum sensor each comprise: a resistive element suspended above the substrate, said resistive element having material properties that change resistance in response to a change in the temperature of the material; and a support structure having support legs coupled to suspend the resistive element above and in thermal isolation from the substrate, said support legs further providing electrical connectivity for the resistive element to receive an electrical signal and to readout the resistance; wherein the surface area of the at least one vacuum sensor's resistive element is different than the surface area of each bolometer pixel's resistive element.