Patent ID: 7781735

Claim:
A sun detection sensor assembly for attachment to a thermal imaging microbolometer device, comprising: an elongated tubular body having two ends a and sensor, characterized as Sun TECT Sensor, attached to one end; the Sun TECT Sensor having a tubular body, an IR window positioned at one end of the tubular body, and an infrared photo transistor positioned within the tubular body, opposite the IR window; the infrared photo transistor having a photosensitive surface for detecting radiant energy from the sun when the sun is within a field of view of the Sun TECT Sensor and comprises an electrical circuitry connected to a pair of electrical conductors extending from the back of the housing of the infrared photo transistor; and an automatic ON/OFF mechanism which is activated and deactivated by the infrared photo transistor; whereby the infrared photo transistor which is located at a preset distance from the IR window within the tubular body of the Sun TECT Sensor, wherein radiant energy from the sun is exposed to the surface of the infrared photo transistor and is converted into a signal that activated the ON/OFF mechanism and turns the thermal microbolometer imaging device ON and off thereby protecting the thermal imaging device from undesired and harmful radiation.