<title>Transient Response Analysis Of The Thermal/Electrical Response Of Pyroelectric Detectors For Sampled Data Applications</title>

Abstract

Analyses of pyroelectric detectors have generally been limited to a sinusoidal representation of the differential response to chopped incoming energy. While often applicable to single detector/amplifier systems with prefiltering, this approach masks useful tradeoffs of thermal and electrical time constants which could be used to optimize performance when pyroelectric detector arrays are mated to sampled data systems for readout of large focal plane arrays. This paper describes a transient analysis that describes voltage response versus time as a function of thermal effects, electrical interface, detector characteristics, and chopper frequency. Results are used to perform tradeoffs between various types of detecors, their area, thickness, mounting substrates, and sampling methods to obtain maximum output signals for particular sampling frequencies. A major consideration is the need to hard-mount detectors for reduction of microphonics and to prevent thermal runaway, thus achieving performance and reliability that is suitable for spaceborne applications. The conclusions predict adequate capability of these room temperature devices to provide thermal imaging line arrays that can coexist in a focal plane with CCD visible imaging line arrays for accurate co-registration of images in earth observation systems.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.