Patents Assigned to Microcam Corporation
  • Patent number: 6023061
    Abstract: A miniaturized IR camera mounts within a vehicle such as an airborne reconnaissance airplane. The camera includes a two dimensional uncooled FPA, a compound lens for imaging IR radiation onto the FPA, means for adjusting the distance between the lens and the FPA to adjust focus, an electronic module that controls camera read out, calibration, and signal processing, and means for flexibly coupling the FPA to the module. In accord with the invention, the module and the FPA are reconfigurable within the vehicle so that the FPA head can be fit into a tight place, or into a location that is separate from the rest of the camera, such as on top of a vehicle. The invention further provides for calibration techniques whereby the scene, sky or shutter are used to thermally calibrate the several uncooled detectors. Focus, tilt and tip adjustments permit simple adjustment of the FPA to achieve proper focus and alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Microcam Corporation
    Inventor: William Andrew Bodkin