US2003102433A1PendingUtilityA1

Hemispherical detector

37
Priority: Oct 30, 2000Filed: Jan 15, 2003Published: Jun 5, 2003
Est. expiryOct 30, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Emil CiurczakKevin C. Bynum
G01J 3/1256G01J 2003/123G01J 3/10G01J 2003/1828G01J 2003/1243G01J 3/0243G01N 21/59G01J 1/0455G01J 2003/2866G01J 3/12G01N 21/359G01J 3/2803G01N 21/35G01J 1/4228
37
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Claims

Abstract

A hemispherical detector comprising a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a substantially contiguous array, the array being substantially in the shape of a half-sphere, the half-sphere defining a closed end and an open end, the open end defining a substantially circular face. Also provided is a method for constructing a hemispherical detector comprising the steps of making a press mold of the desired shape of the hemispherical detector, pouring a material into the press mold to form a cast, finishing the cast to remove any defects, coating the cast with a coating material, and attaching a plurality of photodetectors to the cast.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A detector comprising: 
 a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a substantially contiguous array, the array being substantially in the shape of a half-sphere, the half-sphere defining a closed end and an open end, the open end defining a substantially circular face.    
     
     
         2 . A detector comprising a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a substantially contiguous array, the array being substantially in the shape of a truncated half-sphere, the truncated half-sphere defining a first open end and a second open end, the second open end defining a substantially circular face having a diameter (“d”), the first open end having a cutout formed therein, wherein the cutout defines an area which is less than Π(d/2) 2 .  
     
     
         3 . A detector comprising a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a substantially contiguous array, the array being substantially in the shape of a half-sphere, the half-sphere includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being in the shape of a truncated half sphere, the truncated half sphere defining a first open end and a second open end, the second open end defining a substantially circular face having a diameter (“d”), the first open end having a cutout formed therein, wherein the cutout defines an area which is less than Π(d/2) 2 , the second portion being removably secured to the first open end, the second portion covering the cutout when the second portion is secured to the first open end.  
     
     
         4 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a filter-type spectrometer which utilizes a light source such to illuminate a rotating opaque disk.  
     
     
         5 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a filter-type spectrometer which utilizes a light source such to illuminate a rotating opaque disk.  
     
     
         6 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a filter-type spectrometer which utilizes a light source such to illuminate a rotating opaque disk.  
     
     
         7 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a near IR spectrometer that utilizes a tilting filter wheel.  
     
     
         8 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a near IR spectrometer that utilizes a tilting filter wheel.  
     
     
         9 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a near IR spectrometer that utilizes a tilting filter wheel.  
     
     
         10 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a near IR spectrometer utilizing interference filters mounted in an encoder wheel.  
     
     
         11 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a near IR spectrometer utilizing interference filters mounted in an encoder wheel.  
     
     
         12 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a near IR spectrometer utilizing interference filters mounted in an encoder wheel.  
     
     
         13 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a pre-dispersive monochrometer-based instrument where the light is dispersed prior to striking the sample.  
     
     
         14 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a pre-dispersive monochrometer-based instrument where the light is dispersed prior to striking the sample.  
     
     
         15 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a pre-dispersive monochrometer-based instrument where the light is dispersed prior to striking the sample.  
     
     
         16 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a post-dispersive monochrometer using a fiberoptic strand or bundle.  
     
     
         17 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a post-dispersive monochrometer using a fiberoptic strand or bundle.  
     
     
         18 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a post-dispersive monochrometer using a fiberoptic strand or bundle.  
     
     
         19 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a multiple discrete wavelength source spectrometer utilizing infrared emitting diodes as a source of near-infrared radiation.  
     
     
         20 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a multiple discrete wavelength source spectrometer utilizing infrared emitting diodes as a source of near-infrared radiation.  
     
     
         21 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a multiple discrete wavelength source spectrometer utilizing infrared emitting diodes as a source of near-infrared radiation.  
     
     
         22 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising an Acousto Optic Tunable Filter spectrometer utilizing an RF signal to generate acoustic waves in a TeO 2  crystal.  
     
     
         23 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising an Acousto Optic Tunable Filter spectrometer utilizing an RF signal to generate acoustic waves in a TeO 2  crystal.  
     
     
         24 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising an Acousto Optic Tunable Filter spectrometer utilizing an RF signal to generate acoustic waves in a TeO 2  crystal.  
     
     
         25 . A detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a double beam spectrometer utilizing a beam splitting device.  
     
     
         26 . A detector according to  claim 2  further comprising a double beam spectrometer utilizing a beam splitting device.  
     
     
         27 . A detector according to  claim 3  further comprising a double beam spectrometer utilizing a beam splitting device.  
     
     
         28 . A method for constructing a detector comprising the steps of: 
 making a press mold of the desired shape of the detector;    pouring a material into the press mold to form a cast; and    attaching a plurality of photodetectors to the cast so as to form a substantially contiguous array which is substantially in the shape of a half-sphere or a truncated half-sphere.    
     
     
         29 . A method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 28  further comprising the step of finishing the cast to remove any defects.  
     
     
         30 . A method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 29  further comprising the step of coating the cast with a coating material.  
     
     
         31 . A method for constructing a detector comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating a malleable airform in a desired shape of a detector;    placing the malleable airform on a ring base;    applying a hardening material to the interior surface of the malleable airform;    attaching a plurality of reinforcing bars in order to stabilize the hardening material;    adding a second layer of hardening material to the interior surface of the reinforcing bars; and    attaching a plurality of photodetectors to the second layer so as to form a substantially contiguous array which is substantially in the shape of a half-sphere or a truncated half-sphere.    
     
     
         32 . A method for constructing a detector comprising the steps of: 
 joining a plurality of pentagons, hexagons, and half hexagons to form a geodesic dome; and    securing a plurality of fitted photodetectors to the geodesic dome so as to form a substantially contiguous array.    
     
     
         33 . A method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 32  further comprising the step of assembling the plurality of pentagons, hexagons, and half hexagons from a plurality of struts.  
     
     
         34 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 33  further comprising the step of securing a plurality of fillings to the struts.  
     
     
         35 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 34  further comprising attaching a plurality of photdetectors to the fillings so as to form the substantially contiguous array.  
     
     
         36 . The detector as recited in  claim 1  wherein the photodetectors are photoconductive photon detectors.  
     
     
         37 . The detector as recited in claim  3 . 6  wherein the photoconductive photon detectors are selected from the group consisting of PbSi photoconductive photon detectors, PbSe photon detectors, InAs photon detectors, and InGaAs photon detectors.  
     
     
         38 . The detector as recited in  claim 2  wherein the photodetectors are photoconductive photon detectors.  
     
     
         39 . The detector as recited in  claim 38  wherein the photoconductive photon detectors are selected from the group consisting of PbSi photoconductive photon detectors, PbSe photon detectors, InAs photon detectors, and InGaAs photon detectors  
     
     
         40 . The detector as recited in  claim 3  wherein the photodetectors are photoconductive photon detectors.  
     
     
         41 . The detector as recited in  claim 40  wherein the photoconductive photon detectors are selected from the group consisting of PbSi photoconductive photon detectors, PbSe photon detectors, InAs photon detectors, and InGaAs photon detectors  
     
     
         42 . The detector as recited, in  claim 1  wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic photon detectors, InSb photon detectors, photodiodes, photoconductive cells, and HgCdTe photoconductive detectors.  
     
     
         43 . The detector as recited in  claim 2  wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic photon detectors, InSb photon detectors, photodiodes, photoconductive cells, and HgCdTe photoconductive detectors.  
     
     
         44 . The detector as recited in  claim 3  wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic photon detectors, InSb photon detectors, photodiodes, photoconductive cells, and HgCdTe photoconductive detectors.  
     
     
         45 . The detector as recited in  claim 1  wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of Ge detectors, Si detectors, and PbS detectors.  
     
     
         46 . The detector as recited in  claim 2  wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of Ge detectors, Si detectors, and PbS detectors.  
     
     
         47 . The detector as recited in  claim 3  wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of Ge detectors, Si detectors, and PbS detectors.  
     
     
         48 . The detector as recited in  claim 1  wherein the substantially circular face has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 1 m.  
     
     
         49 . The detector as recited in  claim 2  wherein the substantially circular face has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 1 m.  
     
     
         50 . The detector as recited in  claim 3  wherein the substantially circular face has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 1 m.  
     
     
         51 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 28  wherein the cast has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 1 m.  
     
     
         52 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 31  wherein the malleable airform has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 1 m.  
     
     
         53 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 33  wherein the geodesic dome shape has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 1 m.  
     
     
         54 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 33  wherein a strut further has a length of from about 0.39 mm to about 0.26 m.  
     
     
         55 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 28  wherein the mold further comprises apertures in the cast.  
     
     
         56 . The method for constructing a detector as recited in  claim 31  wherein the malleable airform further comprises apertures in the cast.  
     
     
         57 . The detector as recited in  claim 1  wherein the array includes at least two different types of photodetectors.  
     
     
         58 . The detector as recited in  claim 2  wherein the array includes at least two different types of photodetectors.  
     
     
         59 . The detector as recited in  claim 3  wherein the array includes at least two different types of photodetectors.

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