Patent ID: 7122815

Claim:
An infrared radiation emitter, comprising: a header having a base; first and second input pins; a reflector attached to said base and having a focal point and an optical axis; a tungsten wire having ends, said tungsten wire suspended above said reflector; leads electrically connecting said tungsten wire to said input pins; a cap and window assembly attached to said base, said window assembly including a cap and an IR transmissive window hermetically sealed with a vacuum tight seal to said cap to form a sealed chamber, said cap and window assembly attached to said base such that said transmissive window is disposed above said tungsten wire and such that when electrical current is applied to said input pins, said tungsten wire emits infrared light, wherein the infrared light is gathered by said reflector and directed through said transmissive window along said optical axis; an oxygen absorbing getter strip, which, when activated, evacuates oxygen from said sealed chamber and thereby prevents oxidation of said tungsten wire, said getter strip welded to at least one of said first and second input pins; and an inert gas backfill contained within said sealed chamber; and a getter-activating filament electrically connected to one of said input pins and to said base and disposed so as to be in close physical proximity with said oxygen absorbing getter strip.