What are the advantages of BST over microbolometers?
Because of the nature of pyroelectric sensors, there is an internal Archimedes spiral chopper that recalibrates the image. However, this calibration system, called the Auto Image Calibration (AIC), is actually a benefit for the user. The PV320 self calibrates itself to a reference 60 times per second (50 Hz for PAL systems) which in turn causes the system to be extremely stable and to have very little fixed pattern noise. Microbolometers also have a mechanical calibration device internally. This NUC paddle will periodically freeze the image and recalibrate. However this is random and at different intervals which leads one to believe that there is some degradation of the image and potentially drift.
