High-Accuracy Uncooled Bolometer System With a Wide Dynamic Range

A high-accuracy Ti–Ni bolometer-based uncooled detection system with a wide dynamic range of optical power measurements for optoelectronic devices and nuclear electronics is presented. A high-precision method for measuring the noise equivalent power (NEP), the responsivity and thermal time constant of single-element bolometers, and the thermal conductance (thermal mass) and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of resistive elements are studied in detail. An adaptive module that provides high-precision voltage measurements for bolometer systems over a wide temperature range is described and tested. The procedure for selecting the basic integrated circuit (IC) and the functionality of the module is described. Using the calculations and measurements of uncooled Ti–Ni bolometers and adaptive module parameters, the performance of the proposed uncooled bolometer system was evaluated.