Monolithically-integrated semiconductor/superconductor infrared detector and readout circuit

U.S. Patent Number: 5311020

Abstract: A monolithically-integrated semiconductor/ superconductor infrared detector and readout circuit providing sensitive, low-noise detection of infrared radiation for high-performance focal plane array applications. The infrared detector and readout circuit includes a semiconductor infrared detector and a semiconductor/superconductor transimpedance readout amplifier fabricated directly on the infrared detector using thin-film, integrated-circuit processing techniques. A superconducting analog-to-digital (A/D) converter digitizes the detector signals in the cryogenically cooled environment of the detector before coupling the signals to the much warmer and electromagnetically noisier environment of the back-end signal processing electronics, thus reducing noise contamination.

Inventors: Silver; Arnold H. (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); Chan; Hugo W. (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); Dalrymple; Bruce J. (Redondo Beach, CA); Ou; Szutsun S. (Manhattan Beach, CA); Dines; Eugene L. (Lawndale, CA); Thomasson; Susanne L. (Redondo Beach, CA)

Assignee: TRW Inc. (Redondo Beach, CA)

Application Number: 07/971,502

Issued: 1994-05-10

Expired: 2006-05-10

Classes: 250/338.4 ; 250/370.01; 250/370.14; 257/25; 257/31; 257/E27.13; 257/E27.136; 257/E31.093

Field of search: 505/848,849 250/336.1,336.2,338.4,370.01,370.12,370.13,370.14 257/25,31

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