Interferometer-based bolometer
First Claim
1. An infrared radiation detection comprising:
- a first plate of silicon, said first plate having a planar upper surface and a lower surface that includes a concavity with a reflectance of unity;
a second plate of silicon, said second plate having a toughened lower surface and a planar upper surface, said upper surface having a reflectance close to, and less than, unity and a small finite transmittance;
means for permanently supporting said first plate above said second plate, said means further comprising spacers that encompass said concavity, thereby forming a cavity between the plates; and
a temperature sensitive element, located inside said cavity, and thermally isolated from both of said silicon plates.
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Abstract
An infrared detector device is described. It is based on an infrared analog of the Fabry Perot interferometer, using one curved, fully reflecting, plate and one planar, mainly reflecting, but partially transmitting, plate. The space between these plates behaves as a resonant cavity which can be built to respond to either a broad or a narrow band of wavelengths in the general range between 1 and 15 microns. It is also possible to combine several detectors of different narrow bands in a single device. Actual detection of the radiation is based on use of thin film resistors, having a high thermal coefficient of resistance, that are thermally isolated from the other parts of the structure. Details relating to the manufacture of the devices are given.
95 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An infrared radiation detection comprising:
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a first plate of silicon, said first plate having a planar upper surface and a lower surface that includes a concavity with a reflectance of unity; a second plate of silicon, said second plate having a toughened lower surface and a planar upper surface, said upper surface having a reflectance close to, and less than, unity and a small finite transmittance; means for permanently supporting said first plate above said second plate, said means further comprising spacers that encompass said concavity, thereby forming a cavity between the plates; and a temperature sensitive element, located inside said cavity, and thermally isolated from both of said silicon plates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification