Micromachined tuned-band hot bolometer emitter
First Claim
1. A sensor engine for producing an electromagnetic emission and detecting a change in the equilibrium temperature of the sensor engine, comprising:
- a sensor engine having a temperature and comprising a substrate surface adapted to emit an electromagnetic emission, the substrate surface having emission features disposed thereon, the emission features having a periodic array structure such that the emission features interact with the electromagnetic emission as a photonic bandgap structure filtering the electromagnetic emission to provide the electromagnetic emission with a narrow spectral bandwidth, the sensor engine being made from a material having a non-zero temperature coefficient of resistivity.
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Abstract
A device for utilizing an optical infrared emitter/detector to sense substances of interest is provided. The infrared emitter/detector comprises a single crystal semiconductor, photonic band gap structure which functions both as an infrared emitter, a narrow-band filter, and as a broad-band infrared bolometer detector to exert wavelength control directly on the active element emitter/detector surface using the periodic symmetry of the photonic band gap structure to produce narrow wavelength “forbidden” optical transmission bands or modes to sense the presence of a specified substance in the environment. A system and method for sensing specific substances using the optical infrared emitter/detector of this invention in a sensor device is also provided. Finally, a method of manufacturing the infrared emitter/detectors of the present invention is also provided.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A sensor engine for producing an electromagnetic emission and detecting a change in the equilibrium temperature of the sensor engine, comprising:
- a sensor engine having a temperature and comprising a substrate surface adapted to emit an electromagnetic emission, the substrate surface having emission features disposed thereon, the emission features having a periodic array structure such that the emission features interact with the electromagnetic emission as a photonic bandgap structure filtering the electromagnetic emission to provide the electromagnetic emission with a narrow spectral bandwidth, the sensor engine being made from a material having a non-zero temperature coefficient of resistivity.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A gas sensor for detecting the presence of a specific species comprising:
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an optical cell in fluid communication with the environment having proximal and distal ends;
a sensor engine fixedly mounted to the proximal end of the optical cell the sensor engine having a temperature and comprising a substrate surface adapted to emit an electromagnetic emission having a flux, the substrate surface having emission features disposed thereon, the emission features having a periodic array structure such that the emission features interact with the electromagnetic emission as a photonic bandgap structure, filtering the electromagnetic emission to provide the electromagnetic emission with a narrow spectral bandwidth, the sensor engine being made from a material having a non-zero temperature coefficient of resistivity;
a power supply in electrical communication with the sensor engine for supplying power to the sensor engine;
a reflector fixedly mounted to the distal end of the optical cell such that the electromagnetic emission travels through the optical cell and is reflected back onto the sensor engine;
a monitor in signal communication with the sensor engine to detect the temperature of the sensor engine and communicate a change in the temperature of the sensor engine to a user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of detecting a gas species comprising the steps of:
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providing a sensor engine having a temperature and comprising a substrate surface adapted to emit an electromagnetic emission, the substrate surface having emission features disposed thereon, the emission features having a periodic array structure such that the emission features interact with the electromagnetic emission as a photonic bandgap structure, filtering the electromagnetic emission to provide the electromagnetic emission with a narrow spectral bandwidth, the sensor engine being made from a material having a non-zero temperature coefficient of resistivity;
applying power to the sensor engine such that the sensor engine projects the electromagnetic emission having the narrow spectral bandwidth and a flux from the substrate surface across a detection region such that in the presence of a species of interest having an absorption region in the narrow spectral bandwidth of the electromagnetic emission, the flux of the electromagnetic emission is reduced;
reflecting the electromagnetic emission back toward the sensor engine such that it impinges on the sensor engine; and
measuring the temperature of the sensor engine such that a change in the temperature of the sensor engine is communicated to a user. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification