Patent ID: 7180063

Claim:
A thermal infrared detector having a thermal isolation structure and comprising a substrate having an infrared reflecting film formed on a surface thereof, a thin-film infrared detecting portion which is separated by a cavity from the surface of the substrate and which absorbs an infrared ray incident thereto and generates heat to thereby detect incidence of the infrared ray as temperature change, a beam separated by a gap from the infrared detecting portion and supporting the infrared detecting portion separated by the cavity from the substrate, and an electrode portion and a metal wiring each of which is made of a conductive material and which establish electrical connection between predetermined portions, the thermal infrared detector further comprising: a shield which extends from an outer perimeter of the infrared detecting portion separated by a gap from the beam so as to cover the beam on an infrared incident side with a space interposed between the beam and the shield and which has an infrared absorbing function together with the infrared detecting portion; the beam being greater in thickness than the entire infrared detecting portion in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the infrared detecting portion.