Abstract

A tuned antenna-coupled infrared detector is made possible by application of a bias voltage in the range of a few hundred millivolts. The use of first and second antenna arms connected to the detector makes possible polarization tuning which eliminates the need for bulk-optical polarization filters. An alternative tuned detector is one in which the antenna is frequency tuned by a capacitative device to make the detector particularly responsive to 8 um to 12 um infrared radiation. When integrated into focal plane arrays, these detectors can be used in remote-sensing systems to facilitate enhanced image recognition, feature extraction and image-clutter removal. One preferred version of the polarization tuned antenna has longitudinal metal antenna arms extending outward from an infrared(IR) sensor in a spiral pattern, with polarization tuning devices connected between the antenna arms, and a voltage for controlling the polarization tuning devices, wherein the polarization tuning devices e

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 6,310,346

Application Serial Number

09/340,850

Issue Date

10-30-2001

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

CREOL

Allowance Date

7-18-2001

Filing Date

6-28-1999

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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