Patent ID: 8080797

Claim:
A bolometer comprising: a membrane; a first spacer; a second spacer, the membrane comprising a resistive layer, a first protective layer, a second protective layer, and a contact layer, the resistive layer and the contact layer extending between the first protective layer and the second protective layer with the first protective layer being located at a side of the membrane facing a foundation, the first protective layer including a first through hole and a second through hole, the contact layer comprising, at a side facing the foundation, a first contact region at which the first spacer extends through the first through hole in the first protective layer and electrically contacts the contact layer, and a second contact region at which the second spacer extends through the second through hole in the first protective layer and electrically contacts the contact layer, and the first and second spacers keeping the membrane at a predetermined distance from the foundation, the contact layer being laterally interrupted by a gap, so that the contact layer is subdivided at least into two parts, the first part of which comprises the first contact region, and the second part of which comprises the second contact region, and no direct connection existing within the contact layer from the first contact region to the second contact region, and the resistive layer being in contact with the first part of the contact layer and with the second part of the contact layer, wherein the membrane is patterned so that a first ridge and a second ridge for thermal insulation are provided in the membrane, the first ridge includes the first contact region in contact with the first spacer, and the second ridge includes the second contact region in contact with the second spacer.