Amorphous silicon two-color microbolometer for uncooled IR detection

This paper describes the modeling and design of two-color microbolometers for uncooled infrared (IR) detection. The goal is to develop a high resolution IR detector array that can measure the actual temperature and color of an object based on two spectral wavelength regions. The microbolometer consists of high temperature amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film layer held above the substrate by Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ bridge. A thin NiCr absorber with sheet resistance of 377 /spl Omega//sqr is used to enhance the optical absorption in the medium and long IR wavelength windows. A tunable micromachined Al-mirror was suspended underneath the detector. The mirror is switched between two positions by the application of an electrostatic voltage. The switching of the mirror between the two positions enables the creation of two wavelength response windows, 3-5 and 8-12 /spl mu/m. A comparison of the two response wavelength windows enables the determination of the actual temperature of a viewed scene obtained by an IR camera. The microbolometer is designed with a low thermal mass of 1.65/spl times/10/sup -9/ J/K and a low thermal conductance of 2.94/spl times/10/sup -7/ W/K to maximize the responsivity R/sub v/ to a value as high as 5.91/spl times/10/sup 4/ W/K and detectivity D/sup */ to a value as high as 2.34/spl times/10/sup 9/ cm Hz/sup 1/2//W at 30 Hz. The corresponding thermal time constant is equal to 5.62 ms. Hence, these detectors could be used for 30-Hz frame rate applications. The extrapolated noise equivalent temperature difference is 2.34 mK for the 8-12 /spl mu/m window and 23 mK for the 3-5 /spl mu/m window. The calculated absorption coefficients in the medium and long IR wavelength windows before color mixing are 66.7% and 83.7%. However, when the color signals are summed at the output channel, the average achieved absorption was 75%.     

Steady-state and transient ultraviolet resonance Raman spectrometer for the 193-270 nm spectral region

We describe a state-of-the-art tunable ultraviolet (UV) Raman spectrometer for the 193-270 nm spectral region. This instrument allows for steady-state and transient UV Raman measurements. We utilize a 5 kHz Ti-sapphire continuously tunable laser (approximately 20 ns pulse width) between 193 nm and 240 nm for steady-state measurements. For transient Raman measurements we utilize one Coherent Infinity YAG laser to generate nanosecond infrared (IR) pump laser pulses to generate a temperature jump (T-jump) and a second Coherent Infinity YAG laser that is frequency tripled and Raman shifted into the deep UV (204 nm) for transient UV Raman excitation. Numerous other UV excitation frequencies can be utilized for selective excitation of chromophoric groups for transient Raman measurements. We constructed a subtractive dispersion double monochromator to minimize stray light. We utilize a new charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that responds efficiently to UV light, as opposed to the previous CCD and photodiode detectors, which required intensifiers for detecting UV light. For the T-jump measurements we use a second camera to simultaneously acquire the Raman spectra of the water stretching bands (2500-4000 cm(-1)) whose band-shape and frequency report the sample temperature.     

Investigation of Uncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array Infrared Camera for Quantitative Thermography

Thermal nondestructive evaluation has shown promise as a potential NDE technology for next generation US Army rotorcraft structures because it is rapid, noncontacting, and able to inspect complex geometries. To successfully apply thermal inspection systems for field use, the cost and size must be lowered. The infrared camera is a major factor contributing to the overall cost of commercially available thermal inspection systems. Recent advances in uncooled microbolometer focal plane array detectors have resulted in low cost, small size/weight, and low power consumption cameras. These attributes make this technology well suited for portable low cost thermal inspection systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the capabilities of the new microbolometer infrared cameras for quantitative thermal nondestructive evaluation. Quantitative thermal diffusivity and thickness images are obtained by minimizing the squared difference between the data and a thermal model on samples with fabricated defects. Critical infrared camera features such as spatial and temperature resolution, detector response time, and detector stability are studied by comparing results to a conventional thermal imaging camera using a cooled InSb focal plane array detector. Finally several techniques are presented to improve the camera’s performance. These techniques include temporal background subtraction, use of a synchronized electronic shutter system, and cyclic flash heating.     

TDI CCD相机实验室辐射定标的研究

TDI CCD相机辐射定标的目的是建立输入辐亮度和探测器数字化输出之间的关系,为相机提供调光参数.本文推导了辐射定标的原理,并针对特定的TDI CCD相机在应用光学国家重点实验室里使用积分球对其进行了基于光谱辐照度灯的辐射定标,标定了TID CCD相机响应的线性度、TDI CCD相机响应分别与增益和级数的关系,根据实验结果我们得到了在不同的辐亮度值下的增益和级数参考值,从而确定了TDI CCD相机的调光参数,并给出了标定的误差和各项误差源的影响.     

Three-dimensional measurement of a gas flow temperature field using far-infrared band CT techniques

Emission spectral tomography (EST) can be utilized to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) physical parameter distributions of gas flow fields. Mostly, the radiant energy of the visual and near-infrared bands is received by a video camera in EST, so it is difficult to examine a low/medium-temperature gas flow field by normal EST. However, the far-infrared radiant energy of a low/medium-temperature gas flow field is strong enough to be received by a far-infrared detector. Based on EST, a far-infrared band computed tomography (FICT) approach is proposed that focuses on far-infrared spectral emission and band emission tomography. Both low- and medium-temperature blackbody furnaces were adopted to calibrate the relation between infrared thermal image intensity and radiant exitance. The 3D temperature reconstruction of an alcohol blow lamp was carried out. According to the results of multiple measurements, the relative error of the FICT approach is less than 20%. The experimental results prove the feasibility of the FICT approach.     

Limiting sensitivity of a differential absorption spectrometer with direct detection in the 2/spl nu//sub 3/ and /spl nu//sub 2/+2/spl nu//sub 3/ vibration bands [methane detection applications]

A differential absorption spectrometer, for methane detection, using tunable laser diodes in the 1.33-/spl mu/m and 1.66-/spl mu/m bands, has been studied. The spectral scanning is carried out by current modulation of the laser diode. We analyzed the performance with a multimode Fabry-Perot laser diode in the /spl nu//sub 2/+2/spl nu//sub 3/ band of methane and a monomode laser diode in the 2/spl nu//sub 3/ band. The theoretical results are validated by several experiments. To determine the sensitivity limit of the sensor, we have examined the influence of the noise sources. A sensitivity of 10 ppm/spl middot/m was obtained in the 2/spl nu//sub 3/ band. The main limiting factors are the relative intensity noise of the laser, optical interferences, and quantization noise. We also analyzed the influence of the temperature on the laser diode emission spectra and the methane absorption spectra.     

Spectral-reflectance reconstruction in the near-infrared region by use of conventional charge-coupled-device camera measurements

Our aim is to develop a method for obtaining the reflectance spectra of samples in the near-infrared (NIR) region (800-1,000 nm) by using a small number of measurements performed with a conventional CCD camera (multispectral imaging). We experimentally determined the spectral sensitivity of the CCD camera in the NIR range, used a method based on principal component analysis to reconstruct the spectral reflectance of the samples, and analyzed the number and shape of the filters that need tobe used to apply this method. Finally we obtained the reflectance spectra of a set of 30 spectral curves by numerical simulation. The small amount of errors in the spectral reconstruction shows the potential of this method for reconstructing spectral reflectances in the NIR range.     

Far-infrared sensor for cirrus (FIRSC): an aircraft-based Fourier-transform spectrometer to measure cloud radiance

We describe an aircraft-based Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) designed to measure the Earth outgoing radiance spectrum in the far-infrared-submillimeter spectral range. The instrument features include a rapid-scan FTS to obtain high spatial resolution from a moving aircraft platform, a sensitive two-channel detector, and a CCD camera for recording the nadir cloud scene with each scan record. Such measurements demonstrate the sensitivity of Earth radiance to high clouds and provide spectral data for improving techniques for remote sensing and retrieval of atmospheric and cloud properties.     

Factors determining the stability, resolution, and precision of a conventional Raman spectrometer

We verified the performance of a conventional Raman spectrometer, which is composed of a 30 cm single polychromator, a Si based charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and a holographic supernotch filter. For that purpose, the time change of the peak positions of Raman spectra of naphthalene and fluorescence spectra of ruby (Cr-doped Al(2)O(3)) were monitored continually. A time-dependent deviation composed of two components was observed: a monotonous drift up to 0.4 cm(-1) and a periodic oscillation with a range of 0.15 cm(-1). The former component was stabilized at approximately 2000 s after the CCD detector was cooled, indicating that incomplete refrigeration of the CCD detector induced the drift. The latter component synchronized with the periodic oscillation of the room temperature, indicating that thermal expansion or contraction of the whole apparatus induced this oscillation. The implemental deviation is reduced when measurements are conducted using a sufficiently cooled CCD detector at a constant room temperature. Moreover, the effect of the room temperature oscillation is lowered in a spectrum acquired over a duration that is longer than one cycle of this oscillation. Applying the least squares fitting method to carefully measured spectra enhanced the precision of the determination of the peak position to 0.05 cm(-1) using the spectrometer with pixel resolution of 1.5 cm(-1).     

Interferometer for ground-based observations of emitted spectral radiance from the troposphere: evaluation and retrieval performance

We evaluate the spectral quality, radiometric noise, and retrieval performance of a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, which has been developed for recording spectrally resolved observations in a region of the spectrum which is important both for the science of Earth's climate and applications, such as the remote sensing of temperature and atmospheric gas species. This spectral region extends from 100 to 1600 cm(-1) and encompasses the two fundamental, rotation and vibration, absorption bands of water vapor. The instrument is a customized version of a Bomem AERI (Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer) spectrometer, whose spectral coverage has been extended in the far infrared with the use of uncooled pyroelectric detectors. Retrieval examples for water vapor and temperature profiles are shown, which also allow us to intercompare the retrieval performance of both H(2)O vibration and rotation bands.     

Interline Transfer CCD Camera for Gated Broadband Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman-Scattering Measurements

Use of an interline transfer CCD camera for the acquisition of broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman-scattering (CARS) spectra is demonstrated. The interline transfer CCD has alternating columns of imaging and storage pixels that allow one to acquire two successive images by shifting the first image in the storage pixels and immediately acquiring the second image. We have used this dual-image mode for gated CARS measurements by acquiring a CARS spectral image and shifting it rapidly from the imaging pixel columns to the storage pixel columns. We have demonstrated the use of this dual-image mode for gated single-laser-shot measurement of hydrogen and nitrogen CARS spectra at room temperature and in atmospheric pressure flames. The performance of the interline transfer CCD for these CARS measurements is compared directly with the performance of a back-illuminated unintensified CCD camera.     

Temperature dependence of the band emittance for nongray bodies

The general problem of obtaining correct emittance values from broadband IR radiometric measurements on nongray samples is discussed. If the spectral emittance has structure in a band, the emittance, averaged over that band, will be temperature dependent, even if the spectral emittance is insensitive to the temperature change. We point out that a widely used expression, with correction for radiance from the surroundings reflected by the sample, is valid only if the spectral emittance is temperature and wavelength independent, i.e., gray. If the spectral emittance is nongray, the conventional emission factor, as determined by a broadband radiometer, is temperature dependent and the numerical value is significantly different from the averaged band emittance sought. Two algorithms are suggested to extract the correct band-averaged emittance from the temperature-dependent radiometric emission factor obtained with the conventional expression. The algorithms are demonstrated with a step model for the spectral emittance, and it is shown that the agreement with the correct average band emittance is significantly improved.     

Multispectral synthesis of daylight using a commercial digital CCD camera

Performance of multispectral devices in recovering spectral data has been intensively investigated in some applications, as in spectral characterization of art paintings, but has received little attention in the context of spectral characterization of natural illumination. This study investigated the quality of the spectral estimation of daylight-type illuminants using a commercial digital CCD camera and a set of broadband colored filters. Several recovery algorithms that did not need information about spectral sensitivities of the camera sensors nor eigenvectors to describe the spectra were tested. Tests were carried out both with virtual data, using simulated camera responses, and real data obtained from real measurements. It was found that it is possible to recover daylight spectra with high spectral and colorimetric accuracy with a reduced number of three to nine spectral bands.     

PARASOL in-flight calibration and performance

Since 18 December 2004, the PARASOL satellite is a member of the so-called A-train atmospheric orbital observatory, flying together with Aqua, Aura, CALIPSO, CLOUDSAT, and OCO satellites. These satellites combine for the first time a full suite of instruments for observing aerosols and clouds, using passive radiometer complementarily with active lidar and radar sounders. The PARASOL payload is extensively derived from the instrument developed for the POLDER programs that performs measurements of bidirectionality and polarization for a very wide field-of-view and for a visible/near-infrared spectral range. An overview of the results obtained during the commissioning phase and the reevaluation after one year in orbit is presented. In-flight calibration methods are briefly described, and radiometric and geometric performances are both evaluated. All algorithms are based on a panel of methods using mainly natural targets previously developed for POLDER missions and adapted or redeveloped in the PARASOL context. Regarding performances, all mission requirements are met except for band 443 (not recommended for use). After one year in orbit, a perfect geometrical stability was found while a slight decrease of the radiometric sensitivity was observed and corrected through an innovative multitemporal algorithm based on observations of bright and scattered convective clouds. The scientific exploitation of PARASOL has now begun, particularly by coupling these specific observations with other A-train sensor measurements.     

Optical design of a spectrometer-monochromator for the extreme-ultraviolet and soft-x-ray emission of high-order harmonics

A grazing-incidence spectrometer-monochromator for diagnostics and application of the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and soft-x-ray high-order harmonics generated by the interaction between a few-optical-cycle laser pulse and a gas jet has been fabricated. We address the necessity of high-resolution spectral and spatial analyses of the high-order harmonics as well as their use as short EUV backlighters in pump-probe experiments. The spectrometer that we present uses a variable-line-spaced flat grating illuminated in the converging light coming from a toroidal mirror. The spectrum is stigmatic, and the focal surface is almost flat in a wide spectral region. The detector is a microchannel plate intensifier with a phosphor screen optically coupled to a CCD camera; it can be moved by means of a linear drive to acquire different portions of the spectrum in the 5-75-nm region. The resolution is almost limited by the pixel size of the detector. We apply the same optical scheme to achieve a constant-deviation-angle monochromator by substituting an exit slit for the detector block: The rotation of the grating gives the spectral scanning. A monochromator for the 5-50 nm spectral region is achieved.     

Measurement capabilities of planar Doppler velocimetry using pulsed lasers

Analytical models of a spectral filter that contains iodine vapor and of the noise sources associated with charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector technology are combined with a planar Doppler velocimetry (PDV) signal analysis to evaluate the measurement capabilities of PDV for quantitative aerodynamic research and production wind-tunnel testing applications. The criteria for optimizing the filter cell and calibrating the frequency scale of its transmission function are described. The measurement uncertainty limits owing to scientific-grade CCD detector performance are then evaluated, and an analysis is developed of the scattering properties of aerosols suitable for aerodynamic flow seeding. The combined results predict that single-pulse PDV measurements with velocity measurement uncertainties as small as 2 m/s should be possible in aerodynamic test facilities for measurement distances of tens of meters.     

频率调制多普勒全场测速实验系统测试

频率调制多普勒全场测速技术是一种基于分子滤波和多普勒频移现象的流场速度测量方法,在高速、超高速及大尺度风洞流场测量方面潜力巨大.我们设计开发了采用CCD相机作为接收探头的FM-DGV实验系统,该系统主要包括激光器、片光光学系统、碘分子滤波器、图像采集相机、频率监测单元等.基于该系统进行了谐波幅值比和转盘线速度测试实验.实验结果表明,该实验系统工作正常,速度测量误差最大值小于2m/s.     

Changes in the Radiometric sensitivity of SeaWiFS determined from lunar and solar-based measurements

We report on the lunar and solar measurements used to determine the changes in the radiometric sensitivity of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). Radiometric sensitivity is defined as the output from the instrument (or from one of the instrument bands) per unit spectral radiance at the instrument's input aperture. Knowledge of the long-term repeatability of the SeaWiFS measurements is crucial to maintaining the quality of the ocean scenes derived from measurements by the instrument. For SeaWiFS bands 1-6 (412-670 nm), the change in radiometric sensitivity is less than 0.2% for the period from November 1997 through November 1998. For band 7 (765 nm), the change is approximately 1.5% and for band 8 (865 nm) approximately 5%. The rates of change of bands 7 and 8, which were linear with time for the first eight months of lunar measurements, are now slowing. The scatter in the data points about the trend lines in this analysis is less than 0.3% for all eight SeaWiFS bands. These results are based on monthly measurements of the moon. Daily solar measurements using an onboard diffuser show that the radiometric sensitivities of the SeaWiFS bands have changed smoothly during the time intervals between lunar measurements. Because SeaWiFS measurements have continued past November 1998, the results presented here are considered as a snapshot of the instrument performance as of that date.     

Spectral airglow temperature imager (SATI): a ground-based instrument for the monitoring of mesosphere temperature

The spectral airglow temperature imager is a two-channel, Fabry-Perot spectrometer with an annular field of view and a cooled CCD detector. The detected fringe pattern contains spectral information in the radial direction and azimuthal spatial information from the annular field of view. The instrument measures the rotational temperature from the O2 atmospheric (0,1) nightglow emission layer at 94 km and from the Q branch of the OH Meinel (6,2) band emission layer at 87 km. The method for temperature derivation is based on the temperature dependence of the line-emission rates. This dependence allows a determination of the temperature by a least-squares fit of the measured spectrum to a set of synthetic spectra, an approach that minimizes the effect of noise from the sky background and the detector. The spectral airglow temperature imager was developed to meet a need for monitoring the role of the mesosphere in climate variability through long-term observation of the mean temperature and the gravity waves from a single station, as well as large-scale wave perturbations through the use of multiple stations.     

Characterization and calibration of a CCD detector for light engineering

This paper describes the methodology developed for characterizing a commercial charge-coupled device (CCD) camera as a luminance meter for analyzing lighting systems and especially for measurements in road light plants. Today, several luminance meters based on commercial CCD cameras are on the market. They are very attractive for the lighting engineer: The availability of a high number of closely spaced small detectors (pixels) on a single chip permits analyses almost impossible with a traditional luminance meter. These commercial-industrial CCD cameras are sold at prices lower than scientific grade ones. They are factory equipped with a dedicated filter to reach the correct photopic sensitivity V(/spl lambda/), and they are factory calibrated in luminance SI units. The main counterparts in using these cameras are in the difficulties to define the measurement accuracy and the influence of the environment luminance on the measured values of the framed scene, in the low resolution of their A/D converter (usually 8 or 12 bit), and the higher noise level (usually the CCD chip is not cooled). To reach the measurement accuracy required by lighting norms, it is necessary to characterize metrologically a camera and quantify all the possible external influences which could degrade its performances, in real measurement situations, and which could affect the measurement results. A carefully controlled measurement set up and operating procedure could limit the causes of errors and improve the accuracy of measurements obtained in operating conditions. In this way, the measurement uncertainties might be evaluated completely, and considerations on the results could suggest particular operating practices to limit the causes of error due to measurement setup and environmental conditions.