US2021116305A1PendingUtilityA1

Radiometric performance enhancement of extended area blackbodies

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Assignee: LAVEIGNE JOSEPH DPriority: Oct 18, 2019Filed: Oct 18, 2020Published: Apr 22, 2021
Est. expiryOct 18, 2039(~13.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Joseph D LaveigneGregory P MatisAlbert GibsonNathan RadtkeVincent Posner
G01J 5/064G01J 5/53G01J 5/80G01J 5/061G01J 2005/063G01J 2005/062G01J 2005/0048G01J 5/522
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Claims

Abstract

An extended area “cavity type” blackbody for use as a radiometric reference for imaging systems may have a well in the form of a cube having four sidewalls and a back wall, and open at the front. The temperature of the back wall may be controlled independently of the temperature(s) of the sidewalls. This system may produce infrared radiance closer to an ideal radiator than typical extended area sources. A “simple” blackbody is disclosed, having a source plate with a front emitting surface; a ledge element disposed in front of and below the source plate for heating air in front of the source plate; and (optionally) another ledge element disposed in front of and above the source plate for cooling air in front of the source plate. A housing may support the source plate and ledge element, and a vent may be provided in front of and above the source plate. A resistive heater may be associated with the ledge element; and (optionally) TECs may be associated with the other (cooling) ledge element. Angles of the ledges may be adjustable to optimize the best uniformity for a particular implementation. Temperature control of the ledges may be in unison with or independent from the source plate.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Improved extended area blackbody comprising:
 an enclosure having a number (n) of sidewalls and a rear wall, wherein the sidewalls and rear wall are formed of a thermally conductive material, and a front of the enclosure is open or has an opening for infrared radiation to exit the cavity;   a coating with a high emissivity material disposed on an interior surface of the sidewalls; and   a coating with a high emissivity material disposed on the interior surface of the back wall;   wherein the thermally conductive material is selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum,   wherein the high emissivity material is selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and paint.   
     
     
         2 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the number (n) of sidewalls is at least (n>=3).   
     
     
         3 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the number (n) of sidewalls is four (n=4).   
     
     
         4 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the number (n) of sidewalls is greater than four (n>4).   
     
     
         5 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sidewalls are flat.   
     
     
         6 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 thermoelectric modules (TEM) mounted to at least some of the sidewalls, and to the rear wall.   
     
     
         7 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 resistive heaters mounted to at least some of the sidewalls, and to the rear wall.   
     
     
         8 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the enclosure is in the form of a cube, with the four sidewalls and the back wall having substantially the same dimension as each other.   
     
     
         9 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the enclosure has the form of a rectangular prism   
     
     
         10 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a non-cube geometry, the sidewalls have substantially the same dimension as each other, and the back wall is larger than the sidewalls.   
     
     
         11 . The blackbody of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 thermoelectric modules (TEMs) or resistive heaters associated with the sidewalls and the back wall;   wherein the temperature of the side walls are controlled separately controlled from the temperature of the back wall.   
     
     
         12 . Improved extended area blackbody comprising:
 a source plate having a front emitting surface; and   a bottom ledge element disposed in front of and below the source plate for heating air in front of the source plate.   
     
     
         13 . The blackbody of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a TEC or a resistive heater associated with the bottom ledge element.   
     
     
         14 . The simple blackbody of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a top ledge element disposed in front of and above the source plate for cooling air in front of the source plate.   
     
     
         15 . The simple blackbody of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a TEC associated with the top ledge element.   
     
     
         16 . The simple blackbody of  claim 14 , wherein:
 an angle of the top (cooler) ledge element is adjustable to optimize the best uniformity for a particular implementation.   
     
     
         17 . The blackbody of  claim 12 , wherein:
 an angle of the bottom (heater) ledge element is adjustable to optimize the best uniformity for a particular implementation.   
     
     
         18 . The blackbody of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the bottom (heater) ledge element heater is not separately controlled from the source plate.   
     
     
         19 . The blackbody of  claim 12 , wherein:
 for very large temperature ranges, the ledges have independent temperature control from the emissive surface (source plate).   
     
     
         20 . The blackbody of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a housing supporting the source plate and bottom ledge element; and   a vent disposed in the housing at the top of the source plate to prevent hot air from pooling there.

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