ZTP315 Datasheet, PDF (1/4 Pages) List of Unclassifed Manufacturers – Response to broad infrared spectrum

GE
Measurement & Control
Thermopile
IR Sensor
Applications
What is a Thermopile?
A thermopile is a serially-interconnected array
of thermocouples, each of which consists
of two dissimilar materials with a large
thermoelectric power and opposite polarities.
The thermocouples are placed across the hot
and cold regions of a structure and the hot
junctions are thermally isolated from the cold
junctions. The cold junctions are typically placed
on the silicon substrate to provide effective
heat sink. In the hot regions, there is a black
body for absorbing the infrared, which raises
the temperature according to the intensity of
the incident infrared. These thermopiles employ
two different thermoelectric materials which
are placed on a thin diaphragm having a low
thermal conductance and capacitance.
APPLICATION NOTE
Thermopile Features
The thermopile has some unique properties
not offered by other detectors:
• Response to broad infrared spectrum
• No source of bias voltage or current
needed
• Inherently stable response to DC
radiation