IR SENSOR WITH INCREASED SURFACE AREA

• US 20140183361A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,939,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/338.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0266 Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a photometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of the measurement area; Position tracking; Photodetection involving different fields of view for a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/045 Sealings; Vacuum enclosures; Encapsulated packages; Wafer bonding structures; Getter arrangements getter arrangements per se H01L23/26 and H01L21/3221
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0871 Beam switching arrangements; Photodetection involving different fields of view for a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/34 using capacitors, e.g. pyroelectric capacitors

Abstract

Sensors, systems including sensors, and methods of using such sensors and systems are provided. In one aspect, a sensor includes a sensor element at least partially positioned within the housing. The sensor element includes a plurality of interconnected segments with each segment comprising a pyroelectric crystal and wherein the sensor may generate a single, unitary signal upon exposure of any segment to infrared radiation.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a sensor element including a plurality of interconnected segments, wherein each segment comprises a pyroelectric crystal, and wherein the sensor is adapted to generate a single, unitary signal upon exposure of any segment to infrared radiation.

2. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a housing defining a window, wherein the sensor element is at least partially positioned within the housing and at least partially aligned with the window.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor element includes more than four sides.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the sensor element is elliptical.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor element has a perimeter that is at least partially arcuate.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein each pyroelectric crystal comprises a lead salt crystal.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein each segment has a substantially similar resistance value, within about ±

20%.

8. An infrared sensor comprising:

a housing; and

a pyroelectric element at least partially positioned within the housing and including a plurality of interconnected pyroelectric segments, wherein the infrared sensor is adapted to generate a single, unitary signal upon exposure of any segment to infrared radiation.

9. The infrared sensor of claim 8, wherein the pyroelectric element has more than four sides.

10. The infrared sensor of claim 9, wherein the pyroelectric element has a perimeter that is at least partially arcuate.

11. The infrared sensor of claim 8, wherein the pyroelectric element comprises a lead salt crystal.

12. The infrared sensor of claim 8, wherein the housing has a can package.

13. The infrared sensor of claim 8, wherein the pyroelectric element is at least partially aligned with the window, the infrared sensor further comprising a lens covering the window.

14. The infrared sensor of claim 8, wherein each pyroelectric segment has a substantially similar resistance value, within about ±

20%.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein each segment within a given sensor has a substantially similar resistance value, within about ±

20%.

15. A system for detecting infrared radiation, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors arranged in a semi-spherical array, wherein each sensor includes

a housing, and

a sensor element at least partially positioned within the housing and including a plurality of interconnected segments, wherein the sensor is adapted to generate a single, unitary signal upon exposure of any segment of the sensor to infrared radiation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each sensor element has more than four sides.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor elements are adapted to be one of elliptical or round.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein each sensor element comprises a lead salt crystal.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each housing has a can package.