DETECTOR SYSTEMS HAVING STRAY LIGHT SUPPRESSION USING A RETRO-REFLECTOR SHIELD AND NEGATIVE LUMINESCENCE

摘要

An infrared detector system is provided for detecting infrared radiation from an infrared radiation source or a scene. The system includes a first area that is semiconductor-based and biased to produce negative luminescence, the first area including at least one semiconductor-based detector. The detector system further includes at least one additional area being semiconductor-based and biased to produce negative luminescence. A low-emissivity specular retro-reflector shield is configured to reflect infrared radiation and covers the first area and the at least one additional area. The shield defines an aperture to allow the at least one semiconductor-based detector to receive incident rays of the infrared radiation from the infrared radiation source or the scene via a low-scatter, low-emission optical system such that the radiation incident from the infrared radiation source or scene substantially fills the solid angle defined by the aperture at any point in the first area.

主权项

1. A detector system for detecting infrared radiation from at least one of an infrared radiation source or a scene via a low-scatter, low-emission optical device, the detector system comprising:
a first area positioned substantially along a first plane, the first area being semiconductor-based and biased to produce negative luminescence, and including at least one semiconductor-based detector configured to detect the infrared radiation from the infrared radiation source or the scene; an at least one additional area being semiconductor-based and biased to produce negative luminescence; and a low-emissivity specular retro-reflector shield configured to reflect infrared radiation and covering the first area and the at least one additional area, the specular retro-reflector shield defining an aperture to allow the at least one semiconductor-based detector to receive incident rays of the infrared radiation from the infrared radiation source or the scene via the optical device such that radiation incident from the infrared radiation source or scene substantially fills the solid angle defined by the aperture at any point in the first area, wherein radiation incident on the first area includes the infrared radiation from the infrared radiation source or scene, radiation emitted from a portion of the first area and the at least one additional area reduced by negative luminescence and reflected by the retro-reflector shield onto the first area, a portion of radiation emitted or scattered from the optical device, and a portion of radiation emitted by the retro-reflector shield.