Abstract: A photoconductive detector array which is responsive to infrared light to provide an electrical output response includes a substrate which is transparent to infrared light. A continuous layer of photoconductive material is disposed upon the substrate, and a conductive grid disposed on the continuous layer of photoconductive material divides the photoconductive material electrically but not physically into plural detector areas. Electrical connection structure is provided for individual electrical contact with a central region of each one of the plural detector areas. A method of making a detector array according to the invention includes forming plural perforations through the continuous layer of photoconductive material to expose the substrate. The electrical connection structure includes contacts which are secured to the substrate through the photoconductive material and which effect electrical connection with this material for each one of the plural detector areas.

Abstract: An infrared line-scanning detector includes a scanner having an optical system, infrared linear photo-conductive detector providing an analog image signal, cooler, and conversion electronics for converting the image signal from the detector to digital electrical and digitally-encoded optical formats, all on a moving scanning platform of the scanner. The digitally-encoded optical format of the image signal takes the form of an encoded light beam which is beamed off of the moving scanning platform to a receiver on the stationary portion of the scanner. From the scanner, the image signal is transmitted in the optical format over a fiber optic cable to a reformatting, processing, analysis, and display portion of the imager. This latter portion of the imager allows the image signal to be converted once again to digital electronic format for processing, pattern recognition, image enhancement, storage, delayed display and comparison, and display in near-real time if desired.