Patent ID: 8344323

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a spectrometer, the spectrometer comprising: (1) a source of mid-infrared radiation that is within the wavelength range of approximately 2.5 microns to approximately 12.5 microns, the source being dimensioned and arranged to enable illumination of a sample with the infrared radiation; (2) a wavelength separator, the wavelength separator receiving a first composite signal from the sample, the first composite signal being based on the infrared radiation and spectral characteristics of the sample, wherein the wavelength separator distributes the first composite signal into a plurality of wavelength signals; and (3) a plurality of detectors, wherein each of the plurality of detectors generates a first electrical signal based on one of the first plurality of wavelength signals, and wherein each of the plurality of detectors comprises; (i) a plate, wherein the plate comprises an absorber that converts incident light to heat; (ii) an electrode disposed on a substrate, the electrode and the plate collectively defining a parallel-plate capacitor whose capacitance is based on a first separation between the electrode and the plate; and (iii) an actuator, the actuator being dimensioned and arranged to change the first separation in response to a change in the temperature of the actuator; wherein the plate and the actuator are thermally coupled to enable transfer of heat from the plate to the actuator, and wherein the actuator and the substrate are thermally coupled to enable transfer of heat from the actuator to the substrate.