US Patent 7355182 - Multispectral camera using CNT detector for mid-infrared

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7355182.html

Infrared cameras are used for night vision and medical diagnostics applications but can suffer from thermal noise which requires cryogenic cooling. This patent teaches a multi-spectral camera that avoids the need for such cooling and which uses carbon nanotubes as a detection element of mid-infrared frequencies. Claim 59 reads:

59. A multi-spectral camera, comprising: a long-infrared charge-coupled device; a mid-infrared detector array; and a control device that synchronizes operation of the charge-coupled device and the detector array; wherein the mid-infrared detector array includes carbon nanotubes; and wherein the carbon nanotubes are tuned-bandgap carbon nanotubes.