Patent ID: 6046398
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G01J,H01L

Abstract:
A micromachined thermoelectric array comprising:a plurality of spaced apart thermoelectric detectors, each detector having a thin dielectric membrane which includes at least one thermocouple having thermoelectric lines that form hot junction means for sensing a source radiation and cold junction means for sensing a reference temperature associated signal, the thermoelectric lines being formed from compositions selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium and mixtures thereof;means for enhancing thermal isolation of the hot junction means of each detector from the hot junction means of the other detectors; anda micromachined substrate for supporting the thin dielectric membrane such that the substrate is opposite the cold junction means but not opposite the hot junction means so that there is an opening in the substrate opposite the hot junction means, andwherein the array has a high ratio of detector width to detector pitch opposite the opening in the substrate of the array, and wherein the high ratio of detector width to detector pitch is at least about 0.65.