Patents
US 10051210 B2: Infrared detector array with selectable pixel binning systems and methods
- Granted
- 2018-08-14
- Filed
- 2015-06-24 application 14748873
- Type
- Utility · 17 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
Various techniques are provided for binning (e.g., clustering or grouping) two or more infrared sensors of a focal plane array (FPA) to permit configuration of the FPA to various dimensions and/or pixel sizes. For example, according to one or more embodiments, switchable interconnects may be implemented within the FPA, wherein the switchable interconnects comprise a plurality of switches adapted to selectively connect or disconnect infrared sensors of the FPA to/from column lines, row lines, and between each other. The switchable interconnects may also comprise another set of switches adapted to selectively connect adjacent column lines together. By selectively opening and closing appropriate switches of the switchable interconnects, two or more neighboring infrared sensors may be binned together to form a binned detector. Advantageously, the binned detector, along with the array and associated circuitry, may provide increased sensitivity, reduced power consumption, and/or increased frame rate.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg180814.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLIR Systems, Inc. 370 patents | US company or organization | Wilsonville, OR | FLIR SYSTEMS INC Form D issuer EXACT high confidence: identical full name and state FLIR SYSTEMS INC SEC filer EXACT medium confidence: identical full name, one of each nationally | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Nussmeier | Goleta, CA | 30 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Eric A. Kurth | Lompoc, CA | 59 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Nicholas Högasten | Lompoc, CA | 92 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Theodore R. Hoelter | Goleta, CA | 74 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Katrin Strandemar | Rimbo, SE | 77 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Pierre Boulanger | Goleta, CA | 60 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Barbara Sharp | Lompoc, CA | 45 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| G01J | Measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, phase or pulse characteristics of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light; colorimetry; radiation pyrometry | G01J5/20 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| H04N | Pictorial communication, e.g. television | H04N5/268 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-24 | Merger Merger and change of name | FLIR SYSTEMS, INC. signed 2021-05-14 FIREWORK MERGER SUB II, LLC signed 2021-05-14 | TELEDYNE FLIR, LLC THOUSAND OAKS, CA | 58830/871 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2015-08-05 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | STRANDEMAR, KATRIN signed 2015-06-23 BOULANGER, PIERRE signed 2015-06-24 HOELTER, THEODORE R. signed 2015-06-24 SHARP, BARBARA signed 2015-06-24 NUSSMEIER, MARK signed 2015-06-25 KURTH, ERIC A. signed 2015-06-26 HÖGASTEN, NICHOLAS signed 2015-07-29 | FLIR SYSTEMS, INC. WILSONVILLE, OR | 36262/197 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.