Pyroelectric calorimeter

• US 4,940,896 A
• Filed: 02/02/1989
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Yoshikami, Shuko, Hagins, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisenberg, J.
• Application Number:
  US07/305,331
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.3
• US Class Current: 250/338.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/00 Measuring quantity of heat measuring temperature by calorimetry G01K3/00 - G01K11/00; specially adapted for measuring thermal properties of materials, e.g. specific heat, heat of combustion G01N
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/482 concerning the temperature responsive elements measuring temperature or quantity of heat, thermally-sensitive elements G01K; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00, H10N15/00

Abstract

A pyroelectric detector comprises a support member having a tapered through-hole therein, a first polyester film positioned on said support member, across said through-hole, an aluminum foil member located on an opposite side of said polyester film from said support member, a pyroelectric film located on an opposite side of said aluminum foil member from said first polyester film, at least one additional polyester film located on an opposite side of said pyroelectric film from said aluminum foil member, and two pyroelectrical leads connected to opposite sides of said pyroelectric film.

Claims

1. A pyroelectric detector comprising a support member having a tapered through-hole therein, a first polyester film positioned on said support member, across said through-hole, an aluminum foil member located on an opposite side of said polyester film from said support member, a pyroelectric film located on an opposite side of said aluminum foil member from said first polyester film, at least one additional polyester film located on an opposite side of said pyroelectric film from said aluminum foil member, and two pyroelectrical leads connected to opposite sides of said pyroelectric film.

2. The pyroelectric detector of claim 1 wherein said pyroelectric film comprises a poly(vinylidene 1,1-difluoride).

3. The pyroelectric detector of claim 2 wherein said pyroelectric film comprises a poled metal-coated poly(vinylidene 1,1-difluoride).

4. The pyroelectric detector of claim 3 wherein said metal coating on said poly(vinylidene 1,1-difluoride) is selected from the group consisting of nickel and aluminum.

5. The pyroelectric detector of claim 1 wherein said at least one additional polyester film include through-holes therein through which said two electrical leads pass.

6. The pyroelectric detector of claim 5 wherein said at least one additional polyester film comprises two polyester films.

7. The pyroelectric detector of claim 1 wherein one of said two electrical leads is connected to an area of silver paint located on said first polyester film which silver paint contacts said aluminum foil member.

8. The pyroelectric detector of claim 1 wherein said polyester films, said aluminum foil member and said pyroelectric film are fixed to their respective adjacent elements by a cyanoacrylate adhesive.