<title>Uncooled IR focal plane arrays</title>

Abstract

Uncooled IR focal plane arrays employ thermal detection mechanisms including the resistive bolometric, pyroelectric, and thermoelectric effects. Readout electronics are incorporated at each pixel. Two thermal isolation structures are possible: hybrid and monolithic. The ultimate limit to the performance is set by temperature fluctuation noise, which depends upon the structure. The state-of-the-art of the approaches employing the three mechanisms is reviewed.