The demand for most advanced sensor technology is increasing throughout the world. Aware of these needs of industry and science, InfraTec makes use of corresponding solutions for the development of its own products. The latest result of this effort is a series of miniaturised multi-channel detectors.
A mere glance at its appearance gives clues about these sensors first unique feature. In the cap where conventional multi-channel detectors have sensitive narrow bandpass channel filters with special adhesive mounted, a central window has been added instead. This significantly more robust broadband filter, e.g. made of silicon, offers substantially better protection against penetrating moisture. It can also be soldered to the housing to create a complete hermetic seal.
So small and so effective
The channel filters are now placed inside the detectors instead. There, they are shielded from mechanical and physical stress as well as from other strains from harsh environments – and they are also located even closer to the pyroelectric elements. The reduction of this distance and the central window integrated into the detector caps are two of the factors that ensure that the field of view (FOV) is now significantly wider. At the same time, all elements are placed closer together inside the detectors. This allows more radiation to reach the pyroelectric element and therefore a higher signal. In addition, since the optical correspondence of the individual channels remains consistently low, the whole detector series proves to be extremely powerful.
Because of their modular stack design detectors of this series are available with and without thermal compensation. The new models are an example of an innovative product line, and one that provides users with additional possibilities for the use of sensors. The compact, miniaturised construction allows for more analysis channels with unchanged detector size. Or, the same number of channels can be integrated into significantly smaller packages.
Choice between four channel and two channel detectors
For example, the LRM‐254, a miniaturised four channel detector comes in TO39 housing, with an aperture of 5 x 5 millimetres. Despite these minimal housing dimensions each channel filter has a size of 1.4 x 1.4 millimetres. Thanks to its space saving and robust design the detector will especially appeal to users who want to integrate sensors in portable devices. In the fields of gas and flame sensor technology, this increasingly compact periphery plays a crucial role.
The same advantages refer to the miniaturised two channel detector LRM‐202. It is the latest model of this series expanding the product range of InfraTec. The detector has an aperture opening of around 3 x 2 millimetres and comes in TO46 housing with the channel filters 1.2 x 0.8 millimetres in size.
Space and cost saving
Due to the minimised stack design, users of these miniaturised multi-channel detectors gain important new flexibility and benefit directly from cost‐optimised production. They get a solution for gas analysis and leakage detection that can be used in stationary and mobile devices ranging from medicine to safety technology and convinces with an attractive price‐performance ratio.
