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P12 - Comparison of Pyroelectric and Thermopile Detectors

Event
AMA Conferences 2013
2013-05-14 - 2013-05-16
Nürnberg
Band
Proceedings IRS² 2013
Chapter
IP - Poster Session
Author(s)
N. Neumann - InfraTec GmbH, Dresden (Germany), V. Banta - Dexter Research Center, Inc, Dexter (USA)
Pages
139 - 143
DOI
10.5162/irs2013/iP12
ISBN
978-3-9813484-3-9
Price
free

Abstract

Thermal infrared detectors are distinguished by the advantages of a wide wavelength response, no requirement for cooling, high-temperature stability, high signal-to-noise ratio and low cost. Consequently, they are widely used in consumer products and in instrumentation. In the literature one can find many publications with regard to details either of pyroelectric detectors or thermopiles but a comparison of both thermal detectors could seldom be found. The main principles and the basic design of both the pyroelectric detector and the thermopile will be discussed as a starting point. Then the electro-optical properties of typical representatives of both the pyroelectric detector and the thermopile produced from our companies will be compared. Measurement results of blackbody responsivity, noise, and specific detectivity and spectral response will be displayed and discussed. The authors will conclude with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of pyroelectric detectors and thermopiles, including the electro-optical properties as well as the costs and typical applications of both thermal detector types.

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