Sophisticated detector design for increased infrared sensitivity

Abstract

The potential for improving the performance of infrared surveillance systems by incorporating sophisticated detector design is discussed herein. This potential lies in improved background discrimination and incident energy utilization. Progress has been made toward realizing such improvements as the result of thin-film techniques. The principle involved in the discrimination technique is analogous to the bridge-type bolometer circuit used to cancel out ambients. This principle has been implemented by transforming these bridge circuits into elements of microscopic dimensions. The distributed network and high resolution make this concept conducive to thin-film circuitry. Material problems encountered such as the compatibility of dielectric and photoconductor are discussed with recommendations for further research.