REMOTE FIRED RF GETTER FOR USE IN METAL INFRARED DETECTOR DEWAR

• Main Authors: NEUMANN, KARL H, ZAHUTA, ROBERT E, ROMANO, TIMOTHY S, PECK, LEONARD E., JR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.04.1993
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; COLD ROOMS; COLORIMETRY; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED,LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT,POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED,VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT; MEASURING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; RADIATION PYROMETRY; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; STORING OF DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS; TESTING; VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED ORSOLIDIFIED GASES; WEAPONS

An infrared detector assembly (10) of the type used in munition and night vision systems has an RF activated getter (50). Such detector assemblies (10) include a tubular coldfinger (22) surrounded by a vacuum and supporting an infrared detector array (26) and related components. The RF getter (50) is located remote from the detector (26) and engages an inner wall surface of a metallic dewar housing (14). The RF getter (50) is activated via RF inductive heating (100, 102) directly through the metal dewar housing (14) such that sensitve IR detector components and hermetic braze joints are kept below their critical temperature. As a result, longer vacuum life and greater operational reliability of the infrared detector assembly (10) are provided.