Patent ID: 6765209
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: G01J,H01L

Abstract:
An Infra Red (IR) sensing device comprising:an IR sensing element for detecting IR radiation, wherein the IR sensing element includes a plurality of thermopile elements with connections to both ends and to a center point of the sensing element; a processing circuit having two inputs coupled to the IR sensing element and a third input, the processing circuit being configured to receive and analyze the electrical signals generated by the IR sensing element; protection circuitry coupled to the two inputs and a first potential; and an electrically conducting housing connected to the first potential, wherein the third input of the processing circuit is connected to the center point of the sensing element and to the first potential and wherein the ends of the sensing element are connected to the two inputs, wherein the processing circuit analyzes the signals from the ends of the sensing element as a differential pair of signals relative to the first potential.