Pyroelectric infrared array sensor

• US 6,175,114 B1
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Hori, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US09/078,349
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.3, 250/332
• US Class Current: 250/338.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/34 using capacitors, e.g. pyroelectric capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 15/10 Thermoelectric devices using thermal change of the dielectric constant, e.g. working above and below the Curie point

Abstract

A pyroelectric infrared array sensor has a pyroelectric element on which a plurality of sensing sections are formed, each of which has upper and lower electrodes which confront each other through the pyroelectric element. To fixedly secure the pyroelectric element to a substrate, lead conductors extended from sensing sections located adjacent to the edges of the light receiving surface of the pyroelectric element are fixedly connected to the substrate by conductive paste. The lower electrodes are connected to solder bumps on the substrate with conductive paste. The respective dimensions of the solder bumps can be adjusted so as to adjust the amount of heat conducted away from the sensing sections and thereby make the heat-sensitivity of the sensing sections more uniform. Alternatively or in addition, the amount of conductive paste used to connect the lower electrodes to the solder bumps can be adjusted for the same purpose.

Claims

1. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor, comprising:

a pyroelectric element including a plurality of sensing sections each having an upper electrode and a lower electrode which confront each other through said pyroelectric element, for producing charges in response to heat generated by infrared rays applied thereto, said pyroelectric element having a light receiving surface;

a substrate to which said pyroelectric element is fixedly secured, said substrate having a plurality of solder bumps which correspond to respective ones of said sensing sections;

said solder bumps being connected to the lower electrodes of said respective sensing sections; and

said solder bumps having a relatively large size at an outer portion of said substrate and having a relatively small size at an inner portion of said substrate.

2. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensing sections are arranged in a linear array on said pyroelectric element, the solder bumps having said relatively large size at portions of said substrate corresponding to ends of said linear array.

3. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said solder bumps are generally round.

4. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said sensing sections corresponds to a respective plurality of solder bumps disposed on said substrate.

5. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein each sensing section is connected to a corresponding pair of solder bumps disposed on said substrate.

6. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said solder bumps have said relatively small size adjacent to a middle of said linear array, and have an intermediate size between said middle and said ends of said linear array.

7. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensing sections are arranged in a two-dimensional array on said pyroelectric element, the solder bumps having said relatively large size at portions of said substrate corresponding to corners of said two-dimensional array.

8. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said solder bumps have an intermediate size along a pair of opposite sides of said two-dimensional array.

9. A pyroelectric infrared array sensor, comprising:

a pyroelectric element including a plurality of sensing sections each having an upper electrode and a lower electrode which confront each other through said pyroelectric element, for producing charges in response to heat generated by infrared rays applied thereto, said pyroelectric element having a light receiving surface;

a substrate to which said pyroelectric element is fixedly secured, said substrate having a plurality of solder bumps which correspond to respective ones of said sensing sections;

said solder bumps being connected to the lower electrodes of said respective sensing sections; and

said solder bumps having a relatively large size at an outer portion of said substrate and having a relatively small size at an inner portion of said substrate;

wherein said plurality of sensing sections are arranged in a two-dimensional array on said pyroelectric element, the solder bumps having said relatively large size at portions of said substrate corresponding to corners of said two-dimensional array; and

wherein said solder bumps have an intermediate size along a pair of opposite sides of said two-dimensional array; and

further comprising;

connecting conductors provided on said light receiving surface of said pyroelectric element for connecting said upper electrodes of said plurality of sensing sections to one another; and

lead conductors provided on said light receiving surface of said pyroelectric element and extending from respective ones of said sensing sections which are located adjacent to edges of said light receiving surface, said lead conductors being connected to said substrate;

wherein said solder bumps disposed along sides of said two-dimensional array adjacent to said lead conductors also have said relatively small size.