Thermoelectrically-Cooled Infrared Imagers

Wayne Grant

doi:10.1117/12.956065

6 June 1978 Thermoelectrically-Cooled Infrared Imagers

Wayne Grant

Proceedings Volume 0132, Utilization of Infrared Detectors; (1978) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956065
Event: 1978 Los Angeles Technical Symposium, 1978, Los Angeles, United States

Abstract

The attractions of using thermoelectric (TE) coolers in IR imagers, as compared to cooling with either a Joule-Thomson cryostat or mechanical tyre refrigerator, are their relative light weight, low life cycle costs, and excellent reliability. The vitality of TE technology derives from a coincident maturation in three "sub-technologies": TF coolers, Intermediate-Temperature-Operation (ITO) detectors, and integrated focal plane electronics. TE coolers are available which provide 3n-50 milliwatts cooling nower at 195 V using less than 3 watts of input power. Small-geometry detectors sensitive to 3-5 micron radiation are thermal noise limited when operated above 170 K but still exhibit respectable detectivities of near 1. 0x1011cm-Hz ^1/2 /W at 193 K. Large detector arrays with integrated focal plane signal processing are now being developed which will improve system sensitivity beyond that of our first-generation devices. This paper briefly reviews the status of TE coolers, ITO detectors, and focal plane electronics, and presents the problems and trends in TE technology.

Citation Download Citation

Wayne Grant "Thermoelectrically-Cooled Infrared Imagers", Proc. SPIE 0132, Utilization of Infrared Detectors, (6 June 1978); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956065

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