Materials and technology research in uncooled ferroelectric IR detector arrays

A technology for the fabrication of large hybrid pyroelectric arrays has been established using the lead compound perovskite ceramics. The research on dielectric bolometer mode ceramics and deposited thin films, and on improved thermal isolation of elements will lead to further improvements as indicated by the merit figures and performance discussed. Providing that techniques can be found in these hybrid array technologies which will allow costs to be kept to a reasonable level, these devices promise to revolutionise the use of the infrared and thermal imaging in civil, industrial and military applications