Patent ID: 8546757

Claim:
A detector element, comprising: a substrate that includes read out integrated circuitry (ROIC); and a microbolometer pixel structure configured to absorb radiation, the microbolometer pixel structure comprising at least two spaced electrical contacts coupled to the ROIC, and an electrically conductive membrane material supported at a position spaced above the substrate and coupled to form a current path between the two spaced electrical contacts, the membrane material having multiple openings defined therein between the two spaced electrodes, and the openings configured such that greater than or equal to about 70% of the total volume of electrically conductive membrane material between the electrical contacts is electrically active; wherein the electrically conductive membrane material comprises multiple intersecting conductive element portions oriented diagonally to the direction of the current flow between the microbolometer electrical contacts, each of the conductive element portions having a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis of each of the conductive element portions being oriented at the same acute angle to the overall direction of current flow as are each other of the conductive element portions.