A new architecture of thermopiles array with WTA implementation

In this paper, a novel architecture of a thermopile array imager for high speed target´s position identification is presented. The sensor array fully integrated in CMOS standard technology, features pixel access and in a particular topology also position detection. According to the description given, with larger absorbing area of floating membrane and therefore less thermal conductance per pixel, is used for the quick estimation of the rough values for spot position and intensity. The winner-take-all (WTA) circuit is used in combination with readout circuit for determining which of the 16 times 16 pixels have received the largest amount of infrared radiation. It is a parallel structure of 16 times 16 cells connected to a common control line. The results obtained so far have shown that integrated thermopile array have reached a high level of development and reliability that are suited for high accuracy infrared tracking applications