Thermal cameras don’t just capture light; they reveal heat. This is made possible by a sensor called a bolometer, which can detect tiny changes in infrared radiation and turn them into images we can see. From spotting hidden fire hotspots to guiding search-and-rescue missions at night, bolometers have transformed the way we perceive the invisible.
Patent US8063369B2, developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., pushed this technology forward. It introduced a new bolometer design that combines detection and amplification in one element, making thermal cameras more sensitive, accurate, and practical for real-world use.
This breakthrough was significant enough to spark a legal battle with Teledyne FLIR, one of the world’s biggest players in infrared imaging. But in this article, we’ll set aside the litigation and focus on the innovation itself. With the help of the Global Patent Search (GPS) platform, we’ll also look at five similar patents that are shaping the evolution of modern thermal imaging.
Understanding Patent US8063369B2
US8063369B2 focuses on solving long-standing challenges in bolometer technology. Traditional designs struggled with weak signals and complex wiring when used in camera arrays.
This invention addresses those issues by combining detection and amplification in a single element. It also introduces a practical method for reading signals from large pixel arrays without adding significant noise.
The Key Features Of This Patent Are
1. Bolometer element design – Each element contains two bolometers with heating resistances, connected in series.
2. Amplification mechanism – The first bolometer can be biased through the second, amplifying radiation signals.
3. Bolometer cell matrix – Multiple bolometer elements are arranged in one- or two-dimensional arrays for imaging.
4. Reading method – A time-multiplexing process allows signals from many elements to be read efficiently and with low noise.
The invention also uses resistance biasing, which stabilizes the system and reduces unwanted feedback. The second bolometer in each element can act as a switch, simplifying the multiplexing process.
The design supports dense pixel arrays, such as 100×100 or more, enabling high-resolution cameras. Cryogenic cooling and superconducting materials like transition-edge sensors (TES) or SIN junctions can further enhance sensitivity.
This patent transforms the bolometer from a simple detector into both a detector and an amplifier. It allows cameras to capture extremely small changes in heat with greater accuracy. With its efficient multiplexing, the technology paves the way for compact, high-resolution thermal imaging systems.
Similar Patents to US8063369B2
To explore the technology landscape surrounding US8063369B2, we used the Global Patent Search tool to uncover similar inventions. These references focus on bolometer arrays, multiplexing methods, and approaches to improve sensitivity while reducing complexity in thermal imaging devices.
1. US2002185602A1
This U.S. patent, US2002185602A1, filed in 2002, describes a method of multiplexing column amplifiers in resistive bolometer arrays. Instead of assigning one amplifier per column, the invention connects multiple columns to fewer amplifiers through multiplexers. This design reduces power consumption and simplifies array readouts while maintaining good infrared detection performance.
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Multiplexed column amplifiers reduce the total number of amplifiers needed.
- Pulsed addressing scheme keeps only a constant number of bolometer elements active at once.
- Columns are connected to amplifiers in a defined sequence using N:1 multiplexers.
- A P:1 multiplexer combines amplifier outputs for efficient array readout.
- A practical example demonstrates scalability with 96 rows and 128 columns using just eight amplifiers.
How It Connects To US8063369B2
- Both address challenges in reading large bolometer arrays efficiently.
- Each emphasizes reducing noise and power consumption in multiplexing schemes.
- Both highlight ways to simplify electronics while scaling to high-resolution arrays.
Why This Matters
This patent shows how multiplexing strategies can lower complexity and power demands in bolometer arrays. Like US8063369B2, it tackles the problem of scaling up thermal detectors without losing sensitivity. Together, they illustrate key innovations in making bolometer cameras practical for real-world imaging.
2. JPH08320257A
This Japanese patent, JPH08320257A, filed in 1995 by Matsushita Electric Works Ltd., introduces an infrared detecting device using a bolometer bridge with a resistor circuit. The key improvement is the ability to measure both the infrared radiation and the bolometer’s temperature simultaneously. This reduces measurement time while keeping the configuration simple.
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- A Bolometer bridge circuit combined with a resistor for detection.
- The inter-bridge voltage detection circuit measures infrared radiation.
- A voltage detection circuit across the resistor measures bolometer temperature.
- Both measurements can be performed at the same time.
- Simplified configuration reduces complexity compared to switching between separate circuits.
How It Connects To US8063369B2
- Both focus on bolometer-based infrared detection.
- Each emphasizes efficient signal readout from bolometer elements.
- Both reduce system complexity by integrating multiple functions into a single design.
Why This Matters
This patent highlights an early approach to simplifying infrared detection circuits. By enabling simultaneous measurement of radiation and sensor temperature, it shortens response time and streamlines design. Like US8063369B2, it shows how bolometer innovations improve efficiency in thermal imaging technology.
3. US5324944A
This U.S. patent, US5324944A, filed in 1992 by Hughes Aircraft Co., describes an infrared detection system with distributed amplification and sampling. Each pixel in the detector array includes local amplification and sample-and-hold circuitry. This ensures equal exposure times across all pixels and delivers higher quality readouts without complex hardware.
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Local amplification within each pixel cell to boost signals.
- Sample-and-hold circuitry ensures equal exposure times for all pixels.
- Reset network simultaneously resets all cells to a base voltage.
- Serial readout of amplified signals row by row, column by column.
- Reduced bus line capacitance for cleaner, stronger signals.
How It Connects To US8063369B2
- Both focus on improving infrared detector array readouts.
- Each seeks to maximize signal quality while minimizing noise.
- Both reduce complexity by distributing functions within array elements.
Why This Matters
This patent shows how distributed amplification and synchronized sampling improve infrared imaging systems. Handling signal conversion and stabilization at the pixel level ensures accuracy and efficiency. Like US8063369B2, it reflects key innovations for building sensitive, high-performance infrared cameras.
4. WO0017614A2
This international patent, WO0017614A2, filed in 1999 by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, presents a multiplexed microcalorimeter array. The invention reduces the need for multiple preamplifiers by allowing one JFET preamplifier to serve several detectors. Using negative feedback and engineered thermal recovery times, it achieves efficient multiplexing without losing energy resolution.
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Multiplexing scheme that connects multiple microcalorimeters to a single JFET preamplifier.
- Negative voltage feedback creates a virtual ground, preventing cross-talk between channels.
- Thermal recovery times engineered differently to distinguish individual detectors.
- Maintains high energy resolution even with multiple detectors on one amplifier.
- Reduces heat load, mass, and power consumption in large detector arrays.
How It Connects To US8063369B2
- Both tackle the challenge of scaling up detector arrays efficiently.
- Each uses multiplexing to simplify readout electronics and reduce system overhead.
- Both focus on maintaining sensitivity and low noise in multi-element sensor systems.
Why This Matters
This patent demonstrates how multiplexing can enable larger arrays of sensitive detectors without excessive electronics. By cutting power and mass demands, it supports demanding applications like space-based instruments. Similar to US8063369B2, it shows how clever circuit design makes high-resolution thermal detection practical at scale.
5. CA2484539A1
This Canadian patent, CA2484539A1, filed in 2004 by ULIS, discloses an infrared radiation detection device equipped with bolometric detectors. The invention introduces a construction technique that improves detector performance while avoiding the need for complex addressing devices. It features matrix-connected bolometers that share common connections, enabling simpler and more efficient readout.
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Matrix of bolometric detectors connected to a reading circuit.
- Each detector includes thermally insulated conductive structures linked to a sensitive bolometric material.
- At least two adjacent bolometers share a common electrical connection.
- Line-by-line readout matched to video frame times.
- Column integrators collect detector current for simplified output processing.
How It Connects To US8063369B2
- Both improve bolometer-based infrared imaging by simplifying readout methods.
- Each emphasizes reducing circuit complexity while maintaining detector sensitivity.
- Both enable practical scaling of bolometer arrays for imaging applications.
Why This Matters
This patent shows how shared connections and streamlined readout can improve bolometer array performance. By reducing the burden of complex addressing, it supports efficient, high-quality thermal imaging. Like US8063369B2, it highlights innovations that make bolometer-based cameras more practical and reliable.
Related Read: Explore US7609961B2 and similar patents to see how integrated vehicle cameras use clever design to hide sensors inside car light housings. This is a concept that, like bolometer cameras, balances sensitivity with compact form.
How To Find Similar Patents Using Global Patent Search
Exploring related inventions is essential when studying a patent like US8063369B2, which focuses on bolometer elements, cells, cameras, and methods for reading signals. The Global Patent Search (GPS) tool makes this process straightforward, helping researchers uncover similar patents in infrared detection and multiplexing technologies.
- Enter the patent number: Start by typing US8063369B2 into the GPS tool. You can also add terms like “bolometer array,” “infrared detection,” or “multiplexing method.”
- Review snippets for faster learning: GPS provides short excerpts from related patents. These explain how different detector arrays, circuits, or multiplexing strategies improve sensitivity and reduce noise.
- Identify similar inventions: Some results highlight circuit-level innovations for bolometers. Others focus on array integration or simplified readout methods.
- Compare problem-solving approaches: While one invention may improve amplifier design, another might reduce power consumption or shorten measurement time.
- Plan with confidence: GPS insights help assess freedom to operate, ensuring new products can move forward without infringing active patents. They also support tracking patents that are approaching allowance, signaling when an invention is close to being granted and ready for commercialization.
Beyond thermal imaging, GPS also surfaces optical sensing patents, such as pool monitoring systems that tackle environmental detection challenges.
Using the Global Patent Search tool not only shows where a patent fits in the wider landscape but also gives inventors and businesses the information they need to make confident research, development, and market-entry decisions.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.
