Patent ID: 8803127

Claim:
An infrared (IR) sensor comprising: a thermopile including: a substrate; an absorber being positioned above the substrate and forming a gap thereof, the absorber being arranged to receive IR from a scene and to generate an electrical output indicative of a temperature of the scene, the absorber being formed of a superlattice quantum well structure including a plurality of alternating first and second layers such that the absorber is thermally isolated from the substrate; a first encapsulating layer; a second encapsulating layer, the plurality of alternating first and second layers being positioned between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer to support the absorber over the gap; and a first arm positioned on a first side of the absorber and a second arm positioned on a second side of the absorber, wherein the first arm is formed of a first superlattice quantum well structure and the second arm is formed of a second superlattice quantum well structure such that the absorber is thermally isolated by the first arm and the second arm.