Pyroelectric Sensor Antenna Wavelength Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pyroelectric detectors used for sensing electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region have limitations, including the inability to detect continuous signals without chopping, weak output signals due to small temperature increases, size constraints that affect responsiveness, and inability to distinguish between different wavelengths.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a pyroelectric material with a transducing portion of graphene and at least one antenna, where the antenna directs and amplifies electromagnetic radiation onto the sensor, allowing for increased temperature changes and wavelength-specific detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the surface area of the detector is decreased to enable smaller detector size and integration into other devices, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the responsiveness of the detector decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the transducing portion from conventional materials to graphene, which has superior charge carrier mobility and sensitivity. This material parameter change enables the detector to maintain high responsiveness even when the detector size is reduced, resolving the contradiction between small size and responsiveness.
2Device complexity
If conventional capacitive detectors are used, then the device complexity is simple, but the detectors cannot distinguish between different wavelengths of radiation and provide only intensity information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an antenna as an intermediary component between the incident radiation and the pyroelectric detector. The antenna is configured with specific resonant frequencies that correspond to different wavelengths of radiation, acting as a wavelength-selective mediator that directs specific wavelength components to the detector while blocking others, thereby enabling wavelength discrimination without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus provides a more sensitive and wavelength-selective detection of electromagnetic radiation, enabling continuous signal output without chopping and allowing for smaller, more integrated sensor designs that can differentiate between various wavelengths.
Implementation Method 1
Electromagnetic radiation which is incident on the detector may cause an increase in the temperature of the pyroelectric material which will affect the charge distribution within the pyroelectric material
Implementation Method 2
The at least one antenna may comprise a plasmonic antenna. The at least one antenna is configured to concentrate energy from the electromagnetic radiation onto the sensor to amplify an effect of the incident electromagnetic radiation on the sensor
Implementation Method 3
The at least one antenna is configured to amplify a heating effect of the incident radiation on the pyroelectric material
Implementation Method 4
The transducing portion comprises graphene. The transducing portion is positioned in proximity to the pyroelectric material so that changes in charge distribution within the pyroelectric material affect the output signal provided by the transducing portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An apparatus comprising:a sensor (1) configured to sense electromagnetic radiation (15) wherein the sensor (1) comprises a sensing portion (3) comprising a pyroelectric material (4) configured to be responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation (15) and a transducing portion (7) configured to convert the response of the pyroelectric material (4) into an output signal; and at least one antenna (21) configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation (15) onto the sensor (1).