Patent ID: 8471209

Claim:
A method for maintenance of an array of bolometer-type detectors suitable for measuring electromagnetic radiations originating from a radiating scene, said method being suitable for stopping persistence of a radiation overexposure experienced by at least one of the detectors of the array, and comprising the following steps performed apart from a radiation measurement sequence: /1/ measurement of a temperature and/or electric resistance of a resistive element of at least one identified detector of the array; /2/ for said identified detector, setting of a threshold temperature and/or threshold resistance, respectively greater than the temperature measured and/or less than the resistance measured in step /1/; /3/ supply of a resistive element of at least one detector of the array, with an electric current suitable for heating the identified detector at least up to said threshold temperature and/or the threshold resistance; and /4/ cooling of said identified detector, by progressively reducing the electric current supplied to the resistive element used in step /3/ for heating said identified detector.