Title:
MULTIPLEXED MICROCALORIMETER ARRAY
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2000017614
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A multi-element microcalorimeter array includes at least two microcalorimeters (10, 12, 14, 16) with each microcalorimeter including a detector coupled thermally to a cold bath. Each detector has associated with it a thermal sensor to generate a signal proportional to a rise in the detector's temperature. A single negative feedback JFET preamplifier circuit (20) is connected to each of the detectors and includes a JFET (18) with a gate, the signals from the thermal sensors connected to the gate. The output of the preamplifier circuit is proportional to radiation energy absorbed by the detector. Each detector has a different thermal recovery time so that the detectors can be discriminated. The multiplexing arrangement allows reduction of the overall number of preamplifier and post-processing channels for a large multi-element array. The reduction allows significantly lower JFET heat load and significantly lower mass and power requirements for the microcalorimeter array.
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Inventors:
SILVER ERIC H
MADDEN NORMAN W
MADDEN NORMAN W
Application Number:
PCT/US1999/022282
Publication Date:
May 25, 2000
Filing Date:
September 24, 1999
Export Citation:
Assignee:
SMITHSONIAN ASTROPHYSICAL OBSE (US)
International Classes:
G01K1/02; G01T1/36; G01K17/00; G01T1/12; (IPC1-7): G01T1/36
Foreign References:
| US5786615A | 1998-07-28 | |||
| US5777336A | 1998-07-07 | |||
| US5389792A | 1995-02-14 | |||
| US4965547A | 1990-10-23 |
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