Patent ID: 6900440

Claim:
An IR energy sensing apparatus comprising: a substrate; an IR energy sensor member for receiving incident IR energy; a readout circuit operatively connected to said substrate, whereby said readout circuit being adapted for measuring level of incident IR energy received by said sensor member; and a levitation mechanism operatively connected to said sensor member for levitating said sensor member, said levitated sensor member having no physical or thermal contact while receiving incident IR energy, wherein: said levitation mechanism is energized at a first level, said levitation mechanism causes said sensor member to levitate proximately-spaced from said substrate without making physical contact with said substrate, said readout circuit, or any other structures; and said levitation mechanism is energized at a second level, said levitation mechanism repositions said sensor member, whereby said sensor member makes physical contact with said readout circuit so as to form a direct electrical coupling contact between said sensor member, whereby said readout circuit is capable of interrogating said sensor member.