Patent ID: 6953932

Claim:
A readout circuit arrangement for a microbolometer imaging apparatus including an array of selectable substrate-isolated microbolometer detectors, each detector having a resistance value Rpixel n associated with the nth detector, D n , and wherein an electrical bias source is coupled to each detector, and wherein a readout circuit is provided for sequentially establishing a corresponding output signal, Sout n , representative of the resistance value, Rpixel n , associated with the detector at a given instant, the readout circuit comprising: a temperature sensor, thermally coupled to the substrate of said array, for substantially sensing the temperature of said substrate, and having an electrical sensor parameter that has a temperature characteristic behavior resembling the temperature characteristic behavior of said array of detectors in response to changes in substrate temperature; first circuit means for sequentially establishing an electrical pixel parameter as a function of said electrical bias source and said detector resistance, Rpixel n , for selected ones of said detectors; second circuit means responsive to said electrical pixel parameter for providing an electric signal output signal, Sout n , as a function of said electrical pixel parameter; bias source generating means for generating said electrical bias source as a function of said electrical sensor parameter of said temperature sensor.