	US 7,485,860 B2
	Thermoelectric bridge IR detector
Michael DeFlumere, Winchester, Mass. (US)
Assigned to BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, N.H. (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/400,261.
Prior Publication US 2004/0188615 A1, Sep. 30, 2004
Int. Cl. G01J 5/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 250—338.1

3 Claims

1. A method for improving sensitivity of an infrared detector having an array of detectors including supporting legs, comprising the steps of:

using a number of detectors, each including a thermoelectric bridge support having opposite conductivity type legs of semiconductor material to support the associated detector; and,

reading out each of the detectors by applying a current pulse through the legs in one direction, with the voltage associated with the leading edge reading out the detector and with the remainder of the pulse resulting in thermoelectric cooling of the legs alter readout, thereby to remove heat from the detector to provide a low NEDT for high sensitivity.