Theoretical analysis on signal bandwidth for microbolometric focal plane array

Based on the discussion of infrared signal readout structure for microbolometric focal plane array, the microbolometric infrared response signal bandwidth is theoretically analyzed in this paper. The infrared response signal channel in microbolometric focal plane array normally consists of several major parts and every one of these different parts has its own signal bandwidth. The signal bandwidth expressions for these parts are theoretically deduced on their physical thermal model or integrated circuit structures, and some key parameters to decide the microbolometric signal bandwidth are revealed in these expressions. These signal bandwidth expressions are theoretically strict and can be utilized to optimize the final infrared response signal bandwidth for any practical microbolometric focal plane array. These theoretical expressions have been successfully applied to guiding the microbolometer structure and readout integrated circuit design in our laboratory, and are useful for a microbolometric focal plane array to have an optimized signal bandwidth and achieve excellent signal-to-noise performance as well.