Patent ID: 6573504
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G01J,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
An infrared sensor comprising:a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of concave portions; a plurality of infrared detectors formed above said semiconductor substrate, each of said infrared detectors having an absorber for absorbing an incident infrared ray and converting the incident infrared ray to heat, and a thermoelectric converter having a pn junction for converting a temperature change caused by the heat generated in said absorber to an electric signal; and at least one support member formed to extend in a direction substantially parallel to said substrate, said support member supporting each of said plurality of infrared detectors above a corresponding one of said concave portions so as to be apart from said semiconductor substrate, wherein said thermoelectric converter includes a semiconductor layer formed under said absorber, said pn junction being formed in said semiconductor layer, one end of said support member is connected to a corresponding one of said infrared detectors and the other end thereof is connected to said semiconductor substrate, and a thickness of said support members is smaller than that of a side of said infrared detector facing to said support member.