Patent ID: 8704179
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: A61B,A61M,G01J

Abstract:
1. A cavity coupled thermal detector for sensing infrared radiation, the thermal detector comprising: first and second spaced apart mirror structures defining a resonant optical cavity at a select wavelength, the resonant optical cavity provided between the first and second spaced apart mirror structures the first and second mirror structures each having a first side external to the resonant optical cavity and a second side positioned to define the resonant optical cavity; and a thermally isolated sensor structure that is optically coupled to the resonant optical cavity that is between the first and second mirror structures, the sensor structure also being positioned within the resonant optical cavity for on resonance coupling with infrared radiation at the select wavelength, and at least partially absorbing to infrared radiation at the select wavelength wherein the sensor structure is thermally isolated to an effective degree so that the sensor exceeds its blackbody radiation noise limit, and further wherein a heat transfer ability of the sensor varies with direction and wavelength of the infrared radiation that is absorbed by the sensor.