Patent ID: 8158943

Claim:
An infrared (IR) detector for generating an image of an object, the IR detector comprising: at least one thermal sensing element being configured to: receive at least one oscillating signal; detect at least a portion of a thermal output from the object; generate an electrical output signal that is indicative of at least a portion of the detected thermal output; and modulate the electrical output signal with the at least one oscillating signal to provide a modulated output signal that is indicative of at least a portion of the image of the object; a gain circuit being operatively coupled to the at least one thermal sensing element and being configured to increase the modulated output signal to generate an increased modulated output signal; a converter being operatively coupled to the gain circuit and being configured to convert the increased modulated output signal into a digital increased modulated output signal; and a demodulation circuit being operatively coupled to the converter and being configured to demodulate the digital increased modulated output signal for providing at least a portion of the image of the object.