Pyroelectric sensor and method for determining a temperature of a portion of a scene utilizing the pyroelectric sensor
First Claim
1. A pyroelectric sensor, comprising:
- a ferroelectric layer having first and second sides;
a first metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer; and
a second metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer a predetermined distance from the first metal electrode, wherein when a switching voltage is applied between the first and second metal electrodes so as to switch a polarization state of the ferroelectric layer, an amount of switching current flowing between the first and second metal electrodes is indicative of a temperature level of the ferroelectric layer.
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Abstract
A pyroelectric sensor and a method for determining a scene temperature are provided. The pyroelectric sensor includes a ferroelectric layer having first and second sides. The pyroelectric sensor further includes a first metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer. The pyroelectric sensor further includes a second metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer a predetermined distance from the first metal electrode. When a switching voltage is applied to between the first and second metal electrodes so as to switch a polarization state of the ferroelectric layer, an amount of current flowing between the first and second metal electrodes is indicative of a temperature level of the ferroelectric layer.
16 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A pyroelectric sensor, comprising:
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a ferroelectric layer having first and second sides;
a first metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer; and
a second metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer a predetermined distance from the first metal electrode, wherein when a switching voltage is applied between the first and second metal electrodes so as to switch a polarization state of the ferroelectric layer, an amount of switching current flowing between the first and second metal electrodes is indicative of a temperature level of the ferroelectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 5. The pyroelectric sensor of claim 5, further comprising first and second electrical terminals electrically coupled to the first and second metal electrodes, respectively.
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16. A focal plane array, comprising:
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a plurality of pyroelectric sensors, each pyroelectric sensor comprising;
a ferroelectric layer having first and second sides;
a first metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer; and
a second metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer a predetermined distance from the first metal electrode, wherein when a switching voltage is applied between the first and second metal electrodes so as to switch a polarization state of the ferroelectric layer, an amount of switching current flowing between the first and second metal electrodes is indicative of a temperature level of the ferroelectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for determining a temperature of a portion of a scene utilizing a pyroelectric sensor, the pyroelectric sensor having a ferroelectric layer, and first and second metal electrodes, the ferroelectric layer having first and second sides, the first metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer, the second metal electrode disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer a predetermined distance from the first metal electrode, the method comprising:
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applying a switching voltage between the first and second metal electrodes disposed on the first side of the ferroelectric layer; and
measuring an amount of switching current flowing between the first and second metal electrodes that is indicative of a temperature level of the ferroelectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification