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Nonimaging applications for microbolometer arrays

Nonimaging applications for microbolometer arrays

Authors :
Felix Cayer
Christine Alain
Carl Larouche
Mario Lehoux
Hubert Jerominek
Nick Tasker
Francis Picard
Timothy D. Pope
Simon Savard
Ghislain Bilodeau
Carol Grenier
Bruno Tremblay
Rose Zhang
Linh Phong Ngo
Source :
Infrared Technology and Applications XXVII.
Publication Year :
2001
Publisher :
SPIE, 2001.

Abstract

In an effort to leverage uncooled microbolometer technology, testing of bolometer performance in various nonimaging applications has been performed. One of these applications makes use of an uncooled microbolometer array as the sensing element for a laser beam analyzer. Results of the characterization of cw CO2 laser beams with this analyzer are given. A comparison with the results obtained with a commercial laser beam analyzer is made. Various advantages specific to microbolometer arrays for this application are identified. A second application makes use of microbolometers for absolute temperature measurements. The experimental method and results are described. The technique's limitations and possible implementations are discussed. Finally, the third application evaluated is related to the rapidly expanding field of biometry. It consists of using a modified microbolometer array for fingerprint sensing. The basic approach allowing the use of microbolometers for such an application is discussed. The results of a proof-of-principle experiment are described. Globally, the described work illustrates the fact that microbolometer array fabrication technology can be exploited for many important applications other than IR imaging.

Details

ISSN :
0277786X
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Infrared Technology and Applications XXVII
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........ef41b4c762e493cafcca9764001d9ad5
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.445296