A flexible infrared emissive module comprises an electrically insulating carrier layer (12), an electrically conductive layer (14) mounted to the carrier layer, an electrically insulating top layer (18) mounted to the carrier and electrically conductive layers on one side of the carrier layer and an electrically insulating bottom layer (16) mounted to the other side of the carrier layer. The carrier layer comprises a vinyl film, and the top and bottom layers comprise a polyester film, which are mounted to the carrier layer by a heat and pressure sensitive adhesive. The electrically conductive layer comprises a fibrous composite of a fluoroelastomer and carbon, wherein the electrically conductive layer is comprised mainly of the fluoroelastonier. Electrical current is supplied to the electrically conductive layer from an electrical power source (3) by a networked series-parallel power and ground plane circuit (20) that provides even distribution of the electrical current and circuit redundancy enabling the module to continue to function with little or no change in infrared emission after being perforated by projectiles.
A thermal image identification system includes an infrared emitting element having a laminate, and a power source electrically communicable with the infrared emitting element. The laminate includes an infrared emitting layer having a first side and a second side, a cover layer associated with the first side, and a backing layer associated with the second side. The laminate may also include a first heat insulating layer between the infrared emitting layer and the cover layer, a second heat insulating layer between the infrared emitting layer and the backing layer, and an infrared reflective layer between the second heat insulating layer and the backing layer. A plurality of infrared emitting elements may be arranged contiguously for coordinated operation. The infrared emitting elements may be arranged in a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional array. A controller may be used to regulate at least one of an operating mode of the infrared elements, an illumination intensity of the infrared emitting elements, a temperature of the infrared emitting elements, and a voltage of the power source.
