Thermally sensitive element and radiation sensor

• US 5,998,791 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matsumora, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US08/909,493
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.1, 338/18, 338/25
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/20 using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/34 using capacitors, e.g. pyroelectric capacitors

Abstract

A thermally sensitive element is manufactured as follows: a carbonized sheet material is prepared by carbonizing an aramid film at a low temperature; a conductive layer made of carbon ink is formed on the surface of the carbonized sheet material; and a pair of extraction electrodes made of a thin metallic film are provided on the reverse surface of the carbonized sheet material. For applying the thermally sensitive element to a radiation sensor, the conductive layer is arranged to receive radiant rays from the outside, and terminals are connected to the extraction electrodes.

Claims

1. A thermally sensitive element comprising:

a carbonized sheet material prepared by carbonizing an organic material;

a plurality of extraction electrodes formed on a first surface of said carbonized sheet material; and

a conductive layer having a specific resistance lower than that of said carbonized sheet material and formed on a second surface of said carbonized sheet material, said second surface being opposite of said first surface.

2. A thermally sensitive element as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said organic material is an aramid film.

3. A radiation sensor in an ambient environment, said radiation sensor comprising said thermally sensitive element as set forth in claim 1, wherein radiant rays in said ambient environment are radiated on said conductive layer.

4. A radiation sensor as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said conductive layer comprises a conductive material containing carbon.

5. A radiation sensor comprising at least two thermally sensitive elements as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said extraction electrodes formed on said thermally sensitive elements are serially connected, one of said thermally sensitive elements is used for sensing radiation and the other thermally sensitive element is employed for temperature compensation.

6. A radiation sensor as set forth in claim 5, wherein said carbonized sheet materials of said at least two thermally sensitive elements are formed by carbonizing a single base film, extraction electrodes for said carbonized sheet materials are formed on a first surface of said base film, and said conductive layers are formed on a second surface of said base film, said second surface of said base film being opposite said first surface of said base film.

7. A radiation sensor as set forth in claim 6,

wherein said extraction electrodes are connected on said base film.

8. A radiation sensor as set forth in claim 7,

wherein a cut-out section is formed in said base film, and said conductive layers used for sensing radiation and temperature compensation, respectively, are formed on a plurality of regions, divided by said cut-out section, such that said conductive layer used for sensing radiation and said conductive layer used for temperature compensation are adjacent to each other.

9. A radiation sensor as set forth in claim 6,

wherein a cut-out section is formed in said base film, and said conductive layers used for sensing radiation and temperature compensation, respectively, are formed on a plurality of regions, divided by said cut-out section, such that said conductive layer used for sensing radiation and said conductive layer used for temperature compensation are adjacent to each other.

10. A radiation sensor as set forth in claim 6,

wherein the radiant-ray absorbance of said conductive layer used for sensing radiation is higher than that of said conductive layer used for temperature compensation.