Patent ID: 7119326

Claim:
A method of testing a first infrared sensor having a diaphragm containing a heating element and a transducer that generates an output responsive to temperature, the method comprising the steps of: placing the first infrared sensor in an environment so as to cause the diaphragm to be at an environment temperature and so that the output of the transducer is at an environment-induced output level; exposing the diaphragm of the first infrared sensor to thermal radiation emitted by a first body so as to cause the diaphragm to be at a first temperature that is different from the environment temperature and the output of the transducer is at a first output level that is different from the environment-induced output level; exposing the diaphragm of the first infrared sensor to thermal radiation emitted by a second body so as to cause the diaphragm to be at a second temperature that is different from the environment temperature and different from the first temperature and the output of the transducer is at a second output level that is different from the environment-induced output level and different from the first output level; and while the diaphragm is not exposed to thermal radiation from the first and second bodies and the diaphragm is substantially at the environment temperature, causing current to flow through the heating element at a first input level so that the output of the transducer is substantially at the first output level, and causing current to flow through the heating element at a second input level so that the output of the transducer is substantially at the second output level.