Patents by Inventor Eugene T. Fitzgibbons

Eugene T. Fitzgibbons has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Pixel structure having a bolometer with spaced apart absorber and transducer layers and an associated fabrication method
    Patent number: 6307194
    Abstract: A pixel structure is provided that has a substrate and a bolometer disposed upon the substrate that includes a transducer and an absorber that have been spaced apart from each other and from the substrate so as to permit the transducer and the absorber to be separately optimized. For example, the absorption characteristics of the bolometer can be maximized, while concurrently minimizing the thermal loss to the substrate. While the absorber is spaced from the transducer, the absorber is in thermal contact with the transducer such that radiation absorbed by the absorber also heats the transducer. In this regard, the bolometer also includes a thermally conductive post extending from the transducer to the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eugene T. Fitzgibbons, Chien-Jih Han