Patent ID: 7109488

Claim:
A multi-color infrared (IR) imaging device comprising: a focal plane array for detecting both MWIR and LWIR, said focal plane array having at least a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels defining a pixel group, each of said sets of pixels having a pixel area, said pixel group having a pixel group area; said first set of pixels further comprising a first pixel, a first pixel filter, a first stratum, a first MWIR detector layer and a first LWIR detector layer, said first pixel being coupled to an integrated circuit; said second set of pixels further comprising a second pixel, a second pixel filter, a second stratum, a second MWIR detector layer and a second LWIR detector layer, said second pixel being coupled to said integrated circuit; optics for simultaneously directing said MWIR and said LWIR in focus onto said focal plane array, said MWIR defining an M band, said LWIR defining an L 1 band and an L 2 band; an inhomogeneous filter, comprising said first pixel filter and said second pixel filter, overlaid on the focal plane array so that said M band and said L 1 band pass through to said first set of pixels, and further said inhomogeneous filter passes said M band, said L 1 band and said L 2 band to said second set of pixels; said optics establishing an MWIR spot size and an LWIR spot size, said focal plane array being spaced-apart from said optics by a predetermined distance chosen according to a focal length for said MWIR so that said MWIR spot size is about equal to said pixel area and said LWIR spot size is about equal to said pixel group area; said first set of pixels generate a first pixel output that includes said L 1 band; said second set of pixels generate a second pixel output that includes said L 1 band and said L 2 band; a multiple amount of said first set of pixels and said second set of pixels being placed on said focal plane array; and said first pixel outputs and said second pixel outputs generate a radiation map converted into a plurality of electric impulses read by said integrated circuit, said integrated circuit provides a high-resolution color infrared image to a means for display.