Patent ID: 6828557
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
A radiation detector including a substrate on which at least one unit pixel is formed, the unit pixel comprising:first and second displaceable members attached to the substrate and having similar respective thermally bimorphous structures; a first effecting element attached to the first displaceable member and a second effecting element attached to the second displaceable member such that at least a portion of the second effecting element faces the first effecting element; a radiation absorber configured to absorb incident radiation to be detected, the radiation absorber being thermally coupled to the first displaceable member but substantially not to the second displaceable member so as to enable the radiation absorber, when heated by absorption of incident radiation, to transfer heat to the first displaceable member but substantially not to the second displaceable member; each of the first and second displaceable members including at least a first and a second layer laminated together in a stacking direction normal to the substrate to form the respective thermally bimorphous structure, the first and second layers being formed of respective first and second materials having different respective coefficients of thermal expansion so as to cause a displaceable member to exhibit a bending response when heated, the bending response in one displaceable member but substantially not in the other displaceable member resulting in a change in a gap distance between the first and second effecting elements, wherein the change in gap produces a measurable corresponding change in an effecting parameter; and the first and second displaceable members being disposed so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the stacking direction.